I don't think a beat down is necessary.

I think we have to take into account that whomever the Rams play, they are an NFL football team. In the case of the Steelers, they have a lot of good players and a very good coach, with long practiced schemes.

This idea that winning big is needed to establish playoff credibility is, IMO, not a factor.

Winning is the factor. By 1 or by 30. And winning in the NFL is hard to do.