Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu's Achilles' injury is expected to keep him out of tomorrow's game against the New York Jets.

According to Scott Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Steelers' playoff-positioning will be a determining factor in whether or not Polamalu plays in the final two games of the regular season.

At 10-3, the Steelers have a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens, who host the red-hot New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Should the Steelers get by the struggling Jets, and the Ravens lose to the Saints, a two-game lead in the AFC North standings will assuredly prompt the Steelers to sit Polamalu next Thursday night against a one-win Carolina Panthers team.

Pittsburgh finishes the regular season in Cleveland on January 2, a game that may have no bearing on the Steelers' playoff-seeding.

After missing 11 games in 2009, Polamalu has started all 13 games, totaling 62 tackles, 1 quarterback sack, and 6 interceptions in a season that has him firmly in the discussion for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

If Polamalu does sit, Ryan Mundy will start at free safety.