The Cincinnati Bengals haven't been to the NFL playoffs since 1990, which is also the last time they finished with a winning record. They can take a big step toward the first goal and guarantee the second if they win in Pittsburgh tomorrow.
There are even bigger things at stake -- the AFC Central division title and maybe a week off in the playoffs. If the Bengals win they can take a two-game lead in the division with four games left; at 8-3 they are a game ahead of Pittsburgh and only a game behind Denver for the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
But the Steelers are quite an obstacle.
Marvin Lewis has returned Cincinnati to respectability in two-plus years as coach, but is just 1-4 against Pittsburgh, while quarterback Carson Palmer is 0-3 against the Steelers and had his worst game of this season in their first meeting.
Despite that, the Bengals are confident.
"I think we can beat them," Palmer says. "Everybody on this team thinks we can beat them."
The pressure on Palmer may be literal on Sunday.
The Steelers' dismal performance in Monday's 26-7 loss in Indianapolis is probably a motivating factor -- a coach like Bill Cowher doesn't let things like that lie. Adding to Pittsburgh's problems was the disclosure late in the week that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has yet another injury, this to the thumb of his throwing hand, and will protect it with padding that could limit his passing ability.
Still, Cowher doesn't use injuries as an excuse.
"We've got to play better than we're playing," says Cowher, whose team would take the division lead with a win because it would give it two head-to-head victories, the first tiebreaker.
"There's no margin for error. They're playing with a lot of confidence and at a high level. But the opportunity is right there. If you have the opportunity to win this game, you have a chance to control a lot of your destiny. But we have to play a lot better than we are right now and [need] a sense of urgency to get there."
There are three other head-to-head games on Sunday between division leaders: Atlanta at Carolina (NFC South); Dallas at the New York Giants (NFC East); and Denver at Kansas City (AFC West).
Kansas City can retain hope of overtaking Denver with a win, the Chiefs' confidence boosted after intercepting Tom Brady four times last week in a win over battered New England. The Chiefs are always tough at home, where they are 4-1 this year.
Dallas won its last match with the New York Giants 16-13 in an error-ridden affair. Both teams' kickers will have taken extra practice this week after being blamed for overtime losses in the last round; Jay Feely missed three potential winners for the Giants at Seattle, and Dallas' Billy Cundiff missed a penalty which could have beaten Denver.
The 11-0 Indianapolis Colts' next obstacle to an unbeaten season is the Tennessee Titans, who don't seem as formidable as the following three: Jacksonville, San Diego and Seattle. So other than the likelihood of the Colts continuing their unbeaten run, the most interesting feature is the matchup of Peyton Manning and Steve McNair, who shared the league's MVP award two years ago.
Not that it's in doubt, but the Colts clinch a playoff berth with a win and the AFC South title with a win and a Jacksonville loss.
In other games, Buffalo is at Miami; Minnesota at Detroit; Green Bay at Chicago; Houston at Baltimore; Tampa Bay versus New Orleans at Baton Rouge; Jacksonville at Cleveland; Washington at St. Louis; Arizona at San Francisco; the New York Jets at New England; and Oakland at San Diego.
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