STEELERS CAN'T BEAT EAGLES WITHOUT PICKENS

Here's an excerpt from my latest TribLive.com column:

Attention conspiracy theorists: Steelers wideout George Pickens was not quietly suspended under the guise of a hamstring injury Sunday. True, Pickens has behaved and talked like an ass. But the Steelers tested Pickens' fitness on the field before Sunday's game before deciding to scratch him. That's too much trouble to undertake for the sake of a ruse. Pickens was on the sideline with his hoodie pulled high and tight. It's the latest in witness protection fashion.

To read the whole piece, click HERE.

But wait! There's more!

Now it's being reported that Pickens' hammy is likely to keep him out of Sunday's game at Philadelphia, and perhaps longer.

It would be disastrous if Pickens misses the "death stretch" of the Steelers' schedule: At Philly, at Baltimore, at home vs. Kansas City.

Beating Cleveland without Pickens is one thing.

But the Steelers' running game is mediocre at best.

Russell Wilson distributing the ball to as many different receivers as possible illustrates his savvy and maximizes some minimal talents.

But against good teams, big-play capability is needed. Not just for the sake of chunk yardage, but to stretch the foe's defense.

It's amusing that Pickens is the Steelers' biggest pain in the ass, but also irreplaceable. The Steelers wouldn't miss T.J. Watt as much as they miss Pickens. (The Steelers have good backups at edge rusher that can legit deputize.)

Philadelphia knows all about diva wideouts: The Eagles are 11-2, but A.J. Brown just wants the ball more.

The Steelers can't win at Philadelphia without Pickens.

If Pickens misses the entire "death stretch," the Steelers might crash and burn.