You’re a mean one …

Two weeks ago, we were talking about the Steelers possibly being in play for the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

Or at least the second seed. Today, we could be looking at the Steelers not even winning the AFC North.

In the holiday season, I certainly hope the Grinch didn’t come down the chimney and steal the football season from the Steelers.

But I’m starting to think maybe he did.

The Steelers, after Saturday’s disappointing 34-17 loss to Baltimore, find themselves tied for the lead in the division with their hated rivals at 10-5 each.

And while the team that has lost two straight games still retains control of its own destiny to win the division and grab the third seed in the AFC playoffs, the Grinch still may have more to say before things are all said and done.

With a crucial game against Kansas City looming Christmas Day and a regular season finale at home with surging Cincinnati, could the Steelers end up staring at a four-game losing streak and a road trip in the first round of the playoffs?

It’s not all that remote, actually.

The Chiefs need to keep winning to ensure the overall home-field advantage over Buffalo and nobody has been doing more winning than the two-time defending Super Bowl champs.

On the final day of the season, the Bengals could have a playoff spot of their own on the line, depending on how things turn out this week.

It’s amazing how quickly fortunes can turn.

It just seems like yesterday the local and national media was talking about the Steelers being the team to beat in the AFC and Coach Mike Tomlin being a runaway winner for his first Coach of the Year honors.

We all knew the last portion of the season was going to be a nutcracker for the Steelers, but an impressive 10-3 run seemed to ease concerns going in.

Not today. Not with the Grinch doing his thing.

The sad thing is if the Steelers could have beaten Baltimore, they could have given the NFL the middle finger salute on Christmas Day.

If the division was sewn up, the Steelers could have rested all of their starters and played the JV squad against the Chiefs in the nationally televised game.

What better way to stick it to the NFL for the toughest schedule in league history?

But that ain’t happening. I guess the Grinch had other thoughts.

First came an embarrassing 27-13 loss to the Eagles.

“Stink.” Then we saw Saturday’s debacle at Baltimore.

“Stank.” Could “Stunk” be on the way Wednesday?

Let’s keep hoping for a merry Christmas. After all, even the folks of Whoville would not let the Grinch ruin theirs.

Presents still under the tree

• I’m not sure that four blowouts in the first round of the College Football Championship playoffs was what the NCAA had in mind, but that’s what happened.

Let’s hope the quarterfinals don’t give us four more routs.

• Add NCAA: Penn State may have run away with SMU in the first round, but that doesn’t get Coach James Franklin off the schneid for not winning big games.

And I’m not sure beating Boise State in the next round will do that either.

All the schedule did was give the Nittany Lions the easiest path to the semifinals.

Franklin needs to at least reach the title game to get that monkey off his back.

• Fans have whined about the Steelers injuries as a reason for their current slide.

It’s true that not having wide receiver George Pickens has hindered the heck out of the offense, but remember this: In the NFL, teams tend to lose between seven and 15 players each to injury during the season.

What has happened to the Steelers has happened elsewhere around the league.

The problem is not losing players, it’s having the ability to replace them the best you can.

Apparently, the Steelers haven’t been very good at replacing their wounded.

• I’ve heard a lot of people complaining about the NFL schedule, wondering why the league would put games opposite the college football playoffs and also on Christmas Day opposite the NBA.

Seriously? The NFL is the biggest money-making business in all of sports and you can believe that their ratings won’t suffer against other sports events.

The league knows it is the big kid on the block and obviously doesn’t mind being the bully.

• I just want to wish all of the readers, my friends and family a very merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and happy New Year.

Anyone with any thoughts, opposing views or comments on this column can reach Jeff Oliver by emailing justjto@verizon.net.