The Pittsburgh Steelers won a close game on Sunday against the New York Giants under tough circumstances due to Hurricane Sandy.
The team had to travel the day of the game and was able to leave with a 24-20 victory at MetLife Stadium. Unfortunately for the Steelers, the team may have lost leading wide receiver Antonio Brown to an ankle injury that could force him to miss time.
Brown was injured after spraining his right ankle against the Giants and head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday that his availability for next week's game on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs is "very much in doubt," according to the Associated Press.
This year has been one of the best in Brown's career. He is leading the team with 24 receptions and has amassed 499 receiving yards with one touchdown. Brown has also been a force in the rushing and return game for Pittsburgh, returning 15 punts for over 100 yards.
The Steelers have dealt with numerous injuries this year on both sides of the ball.
Apart from Brown, the team played on Sunday without running back Jonathan Dwyer, who was dealing with a right quad injury. Rashard Mendenhall, the team's leading rusher the past few seasons, has missed multiple games this year after dealing with a strained Achilles.
During training camp the team also lost rookie right guard David DeCastro for the season after he suffered a serious knee injury. DeCastro was taken with the 24th selection in the NFL draft this past year out of Stanford. Pittsburgh had hoped to use him to overhaul their offensive line and team with center Maurkice Pouncey to protect Ben Roethlisberger.
On defense the injuries have been just as numerous. Safety Troy Polamalu has missed seven games with a right calf injury, while linebacker James Harrison has missed time after undergoing knee surgery.
Both players have won NFL defensive Player of the Year awards.
Even with the injuries, the Steelers defense has been stellar this season. Pittsburgh is ranked fist in the league in opponents passing yards, giving up 171 yards per game, and is seventh in rushing with only 88 per game.
Without Brown on Sunday, the Steelers receivers were stellar, including Mike Wallace, who scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Giants.
If Brown misses the game on Monday, it would open up an opportunity for receiver Emmanuel Sanders to start. Jericho Cotchery would take the slot receiver spot for Sanders, who scored a touchdown in the Giants game to go along with two receptions.
The Steelers are one game behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North and still have five division games left in the season. Following Monday's game against Kansas City, the Steelers will play the Ravens twice in three weeks, with a trip to Cleveland in the middle.
