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Q: Why is there a panic about winning the division? The Steelers have proven a Super Bowl can be won by way of the wild card.

Augie Schuyler, Burlington, Mich.

BOUCHETTE: There's panic? Among Steelers fans? Despite what the Steelers accomplished in 2005, the same path the New York Giants followed in 2007, it is not the way to go. Those are the only teams in the 43-year history of the Super Bowls to play three playoff games on the road and then win the championship. As a wildcard team, you must play three games to get to the Super Bowl, all of them on the road (unless both wildcard teams wind up in the conference championship game). Last year, as the No. 2 seed, the Steelers had the first playoff week off, then played two games at home to get to the Super Bowl. Yes, the Steelers have done it but the odds are heavily stacked against a wildcard team winning the NFL championship.

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