It’s one of those things that’d be a cliche if it weren’t so true: Steelers vs. Patriots on Sunday, like we’ve all been saying for months, isn’t a normal regular-season NFL game.
Normal games don’t virtually determine who gets home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. Normal games don’t feature postseason rematches. Normal games don’t lug this amount of psychic baggage — the Steelers are 3-8 against New England in the Ben Roethlisberger era, and if you feel like the only way for them to have a shot in January is by winning this week, you’re not alone.
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 13, 2017
Normal games also don’t play host to “Sunday NFL Countdown.