The Patriots -- currently in the seventh spot in the AFC standings (which means they'd miss the playoffs if the season ended today) -- didn't get any help in the early games on Sunday.

The Cleveland Browns held the Indianapolis Colts without a touchdown but -- in a fitting twist to their dismal season -- still lost. Colts defensive lineman Robert Mathis returned a fumble 37 yards for the game-winning touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, thwarting the Browns' upset hopes and giving Indianapolis a 10-6 victory.

That game, along with Baltimore's soon-to-be-official victory over the pathetic Bengals (Baltimore leads 27-3 with 3:20 to play), means the Patriots have to beat the Steelers today merely to stay within striking distance of a playoff spot. The Colts are now 8-4, the Ravens soon will be, and a Patriots defeat would not only drop them to 7-5 but would put them farther behind in all the tiebreaker scenarios.