Kovacevic: Unbeknownst to most everyone, being 11-and-freaking-2 remains a positive

CINCINNATI -- A few days ago, before embarking for Buffalo, Mike Tomlin strikingly suggested his Steelers would "smile in the face of adversity."

They'd do no such thing, of course.

If anything, they'd sink so much lower with a second consecutive loss that hyperextended every element of what currently ails this group and, maybe worse, exacerbated the sentiment engulfing the setting, something I can summarize in the span of three still photographs:

See any smiles up there?

Nope, me neither.

In fact, I haven't seen many, at least none that were warranted, since that Joe Haden  mega-watt special adorning the very top of this column. That was from Nov. 1 in Baltimore, back when the Steelers beat their archrivals, both performing at their peak, by a 28-24 count to take command of the AFC North.

Heady times.

And it was nothing compared to what came off in the visitors' locker room at M&T Bank Stadium:

Everyone got in on that one. It wasn't just another JuJu Smith-Schuster meme. Even Mike Tomlin made a cameo.

Imagine being tasked with reclaiming that.

Maybe it'll start here. Maybe the 2-10-1 Bengals on this Monday, with the 8:15 p.m. scheduled kickoff and the 11:15 p.m. estimated firing up of the Esca-Loser, couldn't be better timed. Maybe the accompanying clinching of the AFC North championship will represent the needed splash of perspective to everything achieved along the way.

If so, and more important, if the offense can begin to break through its twin colossal roadblocks -- the inability/unwillingness to throw downfield or run the ball --  it could bring the beginning of a new ascent into the final two games against playoff-bound opponents, the Colts and Browns, as well as a rekindling of that feeling from Baltimore.

One doesn't occur without the other, and the performance has to come first.

Still, just for fun, or maybe just for a jolt to a Nation that seems to need it, here's my list of 23 reasons for the Steelers to potentially smile should this evening play out to their hopes:

1. They're 11-and-freaking-2.

Which is to say, they're 11-and-freaking-2!

If everyone's cool with being this bitter over 11-and-freaking-2, then it's equally fair, I'd say, to suggest they find something in life that makes them far happier than being a football fan. Because there are fans of 30 other franchises who'd flip places in a split-second.

2. They'll clinch the AFC North tonight.

In a normal year, that's a really big deal. Heck, in this year, that's a really big deal.

The AFC North will send three teams to the playoffs, presuming the Ravens keep taking care of business as expected, and only one of them will be the champion of a group of longtime, often nasty rivals. That'll be Pittsburgh. Running the North 'n' at for the fourth time in the past seven years, for the 10th time in 20 years.

Anyone care to diminish that, too?

3. They'll clinch it without help.

The Browns beat the Giants, 20-6, last night in East Rutherford, N.J., to stay mathematically alive for the division.

Good. Works out for the better. The last thing these Steelers need is to back into anything right now. Let them claim the crown tonight of their own volition. Let them celebrate accordingly.

Oh, and let someone in that celebration remind the pack, loudly and with pride, that they're 12-and-freaking-2.

4. Ben Roethlisberger's playing.

He's playing football. He's played in all 13 games. He hasn't been perfect, he's taken a couple bumps, but he's playing.

Best as I can recall, this past summer, we'd have all thrown ourselves in front of a fire-breathing locomotive for that to be the case, never mind that he'd be quarterbacking a team that's 11-and-freaking-2, about to be 12-and-freaking-2.

5. Ben's not just playing.

He's playing well.

I'm among those who've lasered in on what's been lacking in Ben's game, and I won't apologize for it. He'll need to throw beyond his nose, beginning tonight, for the Steelers to threaten anyone in the playoffs.

At the same time, he's thrown 29 touchdown passes against nine picks. Before the season, I was asked in a radio interview which I'd rather have: 35 touchdowns for Ben or 35 takeaways for the defense. I answered reflexively that I'd take Ben's touchdowns because, one, it'd mean he stayed healthy and, two, the defense could be dynamic with or without takeaways.

Well, here we are: Ben's touchdowns rank sixth in the NFL, and the defense yet again is No. 1 in the league with 25 takeaways and counting.

6. Diontae's the guy you'd want dropping.

I've often written that I loved when Sidney Crosby took the ice with a long goal drought. Or Andrew McCutchen stepped into the box with a long 0-fer. Because they'd both be that much closer to bouncing back.

Not to elevate Diontae Johnson to the level of either -- he isn't close, obviously -- but he's also the smoothest, slickest receiver on the roster, and yes, that includes his hands. I'll go to bat for him on that. I can't accept that someone with the inherent gift of catching passes with all kinds of contortions ... can suddenly be a catastrophe.

If we're talking Eric Ebron, I'm punting. He's been dropping forever. But not Diontae. He'll bounce back, and that'll begin tonight.

7. Chase Claypool still exists.

At least that's the rumor. Awaiting further confirmation from the Canadian Mounties.

8. The entire receiving corps hasn't approached its ceiling.

That can be a negative, but it can also be a positive. Consider the unattractive alternative, right?

If and when Ben and Randy Fichtner ever get around to committing to the intermediate/deep game, we'll see so much more from JuJu, Johnson, Claypool and my guy James Washington. All four can offer so much more than they have.

Yet again, this will begin tonight.

9. The running game stinks.

No positives here. It's dead and buried.

But it's probably worth reminding that the Steelers ranked 29th in rushing one time they won the Super Bowl, and they still were able to pull off Willie Parker's legendary 75-yarder. It's not anywhere near as important as it once was.

All I got on this one. Sorry. I'll try harder to stay on theme.

Wait: James Conner's questionable for tonight with a quad. He used to just be ruled out. So entering a game questionable is progress.

Hey, I promised.

10. Chuks Okorafor doesn't stink.

The story of training camp this past summer was Zach Banner narrowly beating out Okorafor at right tackle, and all Okorafor's done since then is to illustrate what a high-level duel that was. Both were clearly, legit worthy.

This being the offensive line, it won't catch the attention of casual fans, but it matters a ton with Alejandro Villanueva unlikely to be back in 2021. Tackles don't come cheap in the NFL, and the Steelers look to have two good, young ones in the fold. Add Kevin Dotson's promise, and we're up to 60% of the future line.

11. T.J. Watt's on your side.

Which is to say, the NFL's best defensive player is on your side:

That percentage comes with 12 sacks, 19 tackles for a loss and 39 quarterback hits. All freakish.

This man alone would have half of the NFL's fan bases abuzz with excitement. To boot, he's as pure Pittsburgh as a Wisconsin kid can get, and he'll be here for his full career.

Pout responsibly.

12. The big boys ...

Swinging back to the Ben mindset, any fan of this defense would've been delirious to know Stephon Tuitt would stay on the field this long after his many injury issues over the years. And on top of that, his eight sacks tie him with Bud Dupree, behind only Watt.

Losing Dupree and Devin Bush hurts, but Tuitt's output should feel like found gold for the same reason.

Most advanced analytics have Cam Heyward ranking among the top 10 defensive players in all of football, and this in the same calendar year that Art Rooney II smartly put the cash to keep him here forever.

Try to picture this gentle giant, this civic treasure, in another uniform. Then open the eyes back up and realize that won't happen.

What a duo.

13. Javon who?

The single greatest hole on the defense was supposed to be, beyond any reasonable doubt, at nose tackle. It seemed even the Steelers felt that way, based on their late, significant offer to Javon Hargrave this past spring before the Eagles snapped him up for three years and $39 million.

As the script played out, though, the single greatest hole on the defense was, in fact, at nose tackle. But only when Tyson Alualu was out earlier this season, and opponents seized on that by attacking the vacancy. And they didn't stop attacking the vacancy until he returned, at which point it instantly was no issue.

We never should've been surprised by Alualu, given his pedigree and previous performance. But still.

14. Free agency can wait.

After Cam's extension, most of the fretting about the Steelers' pending free agents -- meaning for 2021 -- was focused on JuJu and Conner. Now that we're most of the way through this season, it should be on Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton. Because all those two do is make plays.

It's impossible now to know who Kevin Colbert and Omar Khan can keep this offseason, but they're all still here now. As is the opportunity to move forward with them into the 2020 playoffs. From the cup-half-full point of view, that's a pleasant convergence.

15. More than a year later, Minkah Fitzpatrick was still acquired for a first-round pick.

I don't care if the Dolphins apply that pick toward building a dynasty, this will remain an all-time heist in franchise history. Minkah made human-magnet magic once, and it was awesome. He's now done it twice, and it's not an accident. He's got the makings of a generational safety.

16. How about the other safety?

Truth be told, Terrell Edmunds is the breakout player of the year on this roster, boasting career-best marks in interceptions, passes defensed, completion percentage allowed, QB rating when targeted and missed tackle rate.

He's gone from dubious first-rounder to dependable foundation type in the span of less than a year.

It's OK to acknowledge that not every team nails every draft pick, even the earliest ones, and that Colbert and his scouts are better at this than most.

17. Inside linebacker survives.

Ever since Ryan Shazier's injury, the Steelers have been searching for answers at inside linebacker, and that storyline re-emerged this year with Bush, Shazier's replacement, falling early. And then Robert Spillane, Bush's workmanlike replacement, falling soon after.

But the enduring presence, arguably more potent than ever, of Vince Williams, along with Avery Williamson's solid start last week against the Bills keep erasing concerns at this position before they can ever materialize.

18. Outside linebacker might, too.

Alex Highsmith's showing through two starts since Bud fell have been encouraging if anything but Bud-like, though it's crazy early to evaluate fairly. He's demonstrated smarts, athletic ability and fire. And he'd better, or more offenses will take to chipping Watt as the Bills were doing with a tight end.

19. The kickers can kick.

We were done with Chris Boswell two years ago. The Steelers themselves were done with Jordan Berry two months ago. Redemption is fun.

20. All contracts expire.

Randy Fichtner's does after this season.

Sorry, I said I'm trying. Not always succeeding.

21. Tomlin can coach.

He's lousy at predicting weeklong smiles, but nearly every team would love to employ him.

If I ranked this any higher, half of everyone would freak out. It's only OK to mention Tomlin after wins, never losses. Even when his team's 11-and-freaking-two.

22. Seeding is stupid.

Had to save this for a low ranking, too, since it's nowhere near as relevant as it seems to be getting portrayed.

The Chiefs beat the Saints, 32-29, yesterday, and the instant reaction was the standard end-is-nigh fare. Which is nuts. Look, Kansas City is the team to beat in the AFC and in the entire NFL. And at 13-1, they'll likely beat out the Steelers for the conference's top seed and, in this coronavirus year, the lone bye through the first round.

Big whoop. On both counts.

The Chiefs have won their past six games by a combined 24 points, an average of four per game! If the Steelers had kept squeaking 'em like that, the entirely of the football world would've critically collapsed on their shoulders. But because it's the champs, because they've got Patrick Mahomes, that gets overlooked as much as their miserable defense.

Again, the Chiefs are the team to beat. But they can be beat.

Moreover, the Steelers could and should manufacture their own bye. After they win the division tonight, being seeded No. 2 or anywhere below that doesn't matter at all. There are no fans and, thus, there's no home-field advantage. Rest up anyone and everyone to get them right for the first round. The Colts don't matter next week, and the Browns never matter.

The playoffs matter. Those are a done deal.

23. No. 23 himself.

Haden will be back tonight. He's been missed.

His smile's been missed, too.