Jeremy Fowler, senior NFL national reporter 6y

Steelers one step closer to goal of home-field advantage in playoffs

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers players went public with it in June, and since then the belief has only grown privately.

The Steelers badly want home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. Depending who you ask, the current AFC leaders will need it.

And on a prime-time stage under their own Pittsburgh lights, the Steelers' 40-17 win over Tennessee Titans showed they are capable of explosions here unlike anywhere else.

The Steelers' (8-2) past six 30-point games have come in Heinz Field.  That would only prove advantageous against the New England Patriots or the Kansas City Chiefs or any other team.

"It's a plus," defensive end Cam Heyward, fresh off two sacks, said about trying to secure home field. "We love our fans. We play great in front of them. We can go on the road too, but it's a pleasure to lay in front of our fans."

It's also a matter of logistics, at least to Le'Veon Bell. Players aren't openly discussing home field, but they sense the energy around it.

At 8-2 and a 3½-game lead in the AFC North, the Steelers have a chance to avoid last year's scenario of back-to-back road playoff games.

"I usually watch the paths that teams take to the Super Bowl, and that's usually the easiest route," Bell said of teams playing on their home fields. "We play with a lot of energy here."

The Steelers' defense travels well, allowing less than 20 points in regulation during six road games this year. Conversely, the offense has failed to break 21 points on the road.

Save the Week 5 aberration against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ben Roethlisberger is typically good for two to three touchdown passes in Heinz, where the Steelers feed off his big-play ability here. A quarterback who has looked erratic for parts of this year came alive Thursday, completing 15 of his last 16 passes for 141 yards and three scores. He's 19-3 in his last 22 prime-time games at home, and there's a good chance an AFC title game would be in the prime-time slot.

Amid early year struggles, Roethlisberger talked often about not needing to peak yet. How does Thursday's performance shape that discussion?

"Hopefully we’re not peaking," he said. "Hopefully this kind of is a start. We had a short week and we got it over with and, as coach says, we’re in the clubhouse early. We can try and get healthy and really build on this win and hopefully offensively we can keep the ball rolling."

Four more wins would get the ball right where they want it.

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