Well, that and the NFL is losing one of the strongest fanbases after week 17. I'm also betting the NFL would have rather seen a team from New York in the playoffs as opposed to a team from Houston.
I hate the Steelers, but the only reason this is being mentioned is because the NFL is losing money with the Steelers sitting at home. Had the roles been reversed and the Steelers sat Roethlisberger the final week of the season, the argument would be that the Steelers have earned the right to lose that game.