Steelers Offense a Scary Sight for the Cheatriots

The Steelers might have replaced the Patriots as the team no one wants to face in the AFC playoffs.

Whether New England would relish another date with Pittsburgh is debatable, too.

At least on offense, the Steelers are firing on all cylinders — a development that was on full display Sunday in their 34-27 comeback win at home over the Broncos.

The Steelers fell behind 27-10, then erupted for the game’s final 24 points to win their third in a row and strengthen their hold on the sixth playoff seed (while also putting a dent in the Jets’ postseason hopes).

It was the sixth consecutive game in which the Steelers scored at least 30 points, and it’s no coincidence they are 5-1 in that span. They also have piled up 522 yards or more a whopping three times during that stretch.

Ben Roethlisberger’s return from injury is obviously the biggest reason for the Steelers’ late-season surge, but relentless, big-play wide receiver Antonio Brown continues to be the linchpin.

Brown had another huge day Sunday and was the difference with two touchdown catches in the second half, despite facing arguably the NFL’s best secondary and one of its stiffest defenses.

Brown is practically having an entire season just in the past six games, hauling in 64 passes for 868 yards and six touchdowns during that stretch.

“Antonio Brown is unbelievable,” former Colts coach Tony Dungy said during NBC’s Eagles-Cardinals broadcast Sunday night. “He’s un-guardable.”

That description could easily apply to the Steelers’ offense as a whole. Just ask the Seahawks, who gave up 538 yards at home to the Steelers last month and only survived with a 39-30 victory because of four turnovers.

With Brown catching everything in sight and a running game that’s still dangerous despite the loss of Le’Veon Bell, Roethlisberger is on a roll. He’s completing 66 percent of his passes for 2,195 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions during the Steelers’ 5-1 hot streak.

Assuming the Chiefs stay hot and the Steelers doesn’t stumble in its final two games (they will be heavily favored against the Ravens and Browns, even on the road), Roethlisberger & Co. will be a No. 6 seed that could likely be headed toward Divisional Round playoff against the top-seeded Patriots.

The Steelers will have reason to be confident there, too. Pittsburgh gave the Patriots all they could handle in the season opener, rolling up 464 total yards (including 134 on the ground) in a 28-21 loss.

It’s hard to see New England itching for a rematch.