It hasn't been the most simple year for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The season started out with a bang after defeating the reigning AFC Champion, Cincinnati Bengals. Three straight losses followed and led to a quarterback change from veteran, Mitchell Trubisky to 2022 first round pick, Kenny Pickett. The team traveled south to take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and escaped with a 19-16 win. The second straight victory (for the first time this season) provided a small glimmer of hope for the organization if everyone in the building wants to make an appearance in the playoffs for the third year in a row.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
There is one thing that absolutely has to happen to even consider this conversation for the next couple weeks. Tomlin's team can't lose a game. They are 2-6 in conference play (third worst in the AFC) and will hold almost no tiebreaker over teams who have the same record as them at year's end. The four losses to the AFC East are devastating. Each team in that division has at least six wins.
Let's map out the Wild Card scenario first. The Steelers barely slipped in back in 2021 due to some crazy things happening on the final day of the regular season.
It starts with the New England Patriots and New York Jets, two teams who both beat Pittsburgh. New England still has to play the Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. Bill Belichick is a phenomenal coach, but losing two of those three puts them with eight losses. Best case would be losses to the Dolphins and Bills, while they upset Cincinnati. The Jets have lost three of five and have the Bills and Dolphins. But currently with 5 losses, the Steelers need them to also drop one to the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars or Seattle Seahawks.
Steelers starting quarterback Kenny Pickett (#8) prepares to take a snap at Acrisure Stadium in his first regular season action against the New York Jets. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh would jump ahead of them at 10-7 while both teams finish at 9-8. The other important team here is the Los Angeles Chargers. At 6-6, they also would need to lose a couple games to end up with eight losses. Those two could come within the next two weeks as they will host the Dolphins and Tennessee Titans. The other two teams in the hunt are the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns, but the two have the same record as the Steelers and both will have to travel to Pittsburgh over the course of the next month.
As far as the division goes, the Bengals upsetting the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday really hurt any hopes of coming from behind to win an AFC North crown. If the Steelers win out, it would mean defeating the Baltimore Ravens twice, however Cincinnati losing three games and finishing at 10-7 isn't all that likely. They are starting to click and playing extremely well at the right time of the season.
If the Bengals were, however to lose three games in their final stretch against the Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Patriots, Bills and Ravens, there would be a three-way tie at the top of the AFC North. The Steelers could end up with the best record best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs (3-1) and even host a home playoff game. There are many moving pieces which is why CBS Sports only gives the black and gold a 3.8% chance to be playing after Week 18.
Steelers Diontae Johnson (#18) warms up before a 2022 regular season game at Acrisure Stadium versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Pittsburgh, PA. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Let's be clear, this is all contingent on Pittsburgh winning the remaining five games on the schedule. It is one of the easiest remaining stretches in the NFL and it all starts in Week 14 when the Steelers host the Ravens. Former MVP quarterback, Lamar Jackson suffered a knee injury on Sunday and may not be able to suit up for the key divisional matchup. One week at a time, but never say never, right?
Do you have any hopes for the Steelers to make a playoff push in December and early January? Let us know in the comments below!
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