INSIDE SLANT

NFL Team Report - Pittsburgh Steelers</h2><br>Steelers fight for playoff lives in final two games<p></p> The Pittsburgh Steelers rediscovered their running game in an upset victory against one of the AFC favorites to reach the Super Bowl. Now they'll try to beat the best team in the NFC on the road.<p></p> The Steelers (8-5-1) rushed for 158 yards in their 17-10 victory over the Patriots, which kept them a half-game ahead of the Ravens (8-6) in first place in the AFC North. Next up is a date with the Saints, who can wrap up the top seed in the NFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory at the Superdome.<p></p> The game is even more important for the Steelers. If the Chargers beat the Ravens Saturday night in Los Angeles, the Steelers can clinch a third consecutive division title by beating the Saints. But if the Ravens upset the Chargers, a Steelers loss could have them on the outside looking in of the AFC playoff picture heading into the final week of the regular season.<p></p> One of the biggest reasons the Steelers were able to beat the Patriots was a resurgent running game. Rookie Jaylen Samuels ran for 142 yards in only his second career start. The Steelers had 158 rushing yards overall, which is quite the improvement over the 206 yards total over a four-game span.<p></p> Samuels could get a third consecutive start if James Conner can't make it back this week from his high ankle sprain. Conner said Wednesday that high ankle sprains can be "deceiving," noting it has been tough for him get comfortable on the field.<p></p> "I thought he showed good patience," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "When it was there he hit it hard. He protected the ball. Those are things you want from a guy who isn't used to carrying it as much or as often as he did."<p></p> With Samuels as the feature back the Steelers don't have to change one thing about their offense. Just like Le'Veon Bell and Conner before him, Samuels doesn't have to come off the field on third downs because he is a quality receiver.<p></p> Samuels had two catches for 30 yards against the Patriots including a crucial third-down conversion that helped to set up a 48-yard field goal late in the game.<p></p> "It's one of the first things we noticed about him is he has really good hands," Roethlisberger said. "He has soft hands. You can throw it all over the place and he can make plays. He showed that this week. We can put him out there and do some things with him. Hopefully, we're just scratching the surface."<p></p> Whether it's Samuels or Conner on Sunday, the Steelers will be facing the NFL's top run defense. The Saints give up 79.1 rushing yards per game and just 3.7 yards per carry.<p></p> "I think the yards per-carry speaks to the dominance of their run defense," head coach Mike Tomlin said. "They are No. 2 in the league in terms of yards per carry so forget the number of runs, forget the game circumstance, ahead-behind, the nature of that. When people choose to run they are No. 2 in the league in terms of yards per carry, so they're run-game dominant."<p></p> While both teams would like to run the ball Sunday, they each have future Hall of Fame quarterbacks that will be featured. Roethlisberger and Saints quarterback Drew Brees have combined for almost 130,000 passing yards. Brees is the NFL's all-time leading passer with 74,111.<p></p> It hasn't happened often over the years, but Roethlisberger is facing Brees one week after playing Tom Brady.<p></p> "It's pretty special," Roethlisberger said. "Two Hall of Famers, two of the best who have ever done it, so it's pretty cool."<p></p> SERIES HISTORY: 16th regular-season meeting. Saints lead series, 8-7. The Saints have won the past two and three of the past four in the series. They beat the Steelers, 35-32, in a 2014 game at Heinz Field. The Steelers haven't won in New Orleans since 1990. 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