The Pittsburgh Steelers were riding high and one of the best stories in the NFL throughout the first three months of the 2024 regular season. Entering December, the unit was 8-3 with sights on potentially securing the number one overall seed in the AFC. That reality has quickly shifted to becoming a pipe dream after a rough 2-3 stint during one of the league's toughest months. It has been especially difficult for Mike Tomlin and his group, however, having to play three games in 11 days against the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. All resulted in losses.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the grounds at Acrisure Stadium as his team warms up prior to a 2022 preseason matchup in Pittsburgh, PA.
Slow starts in each of the last three games have hindered the franchise's ability to keep up some of the best offenses in the NFL. This was a time to prove that the Steelers were the contenders they expected to be, but now not many opposing groups aren't going to worry if Pittsburgh ends up on their schedule come the postseason. In fact, a potentially horrible scenario has now developed, when it wasn't thought to be possible a few weeks ago.
The Steelers will take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18, and if the division rival loses to the Denver Broncos in Week 17, Joe Burrow and co. will have nothing to play for against Pittsburgh. That doesn't mean that they won't be doing everything possible to take down Tomlin's unit in order to to go into the offseason on a high note. If Cincinnati beats Denver on Saturday, though, the Steelers will officially be unable to hold the AFC's seventh seed.
Where it begins to get interesting, however, is if the Broncos take down the Bengals and also defeat a Chiefs team in Week 18 that will likely rest its starters. The other AFC Wild Card contender, the Los Angeles Chargers, have to play the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders, with both contests being essentially chalked up as a win for the Chargers.
If Pittsburgh loses in Week 18, and both the Broncos and Chargers win their final two games, the Steelers will most likely be one-and-done in the postseason once again.
AP Photo / Ed Zurga
Two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Bills' Josh Allen (left) and Chiefs Patrick Mahomes (right) meet each other at midfield after playing against one another.
After dismantling the Steelers on Christmas Day, Kansas City will enjoy home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. That means that all the Buffalo Bills have to do in order to clinch the conference's second seed is win one of their final two matchups versus the New York Jets and Patriots, respectively. Regardless of what the Bengals are, or aren't, playing for in Week 18, they remain a mismatch for the Steelers, despite Pittsburgh's Week 13 win over its AFC North foe.
Many thought that the Steelers would be able to hang around with the Chiefs due to Kansas City's reputation for playing close games in 2024, but that wasn't the case. Stopping a high-flying Bills offense can be looked at as even tougher based on the incredible season that everyone is witnessing from Josh Allen. Buffalo's defense may have some weaknesses, but with the way Pittsburgh's defensive unit has played of late, Allen and co. are a horrendous possible matchup in January.
The Steelers have a mini-bye week to try and get issues sorted out, but overall, the game against Cincinnati is more massive than some realize. Winning and playing the Houston Texans in the first round of the postseason is a much more favorable outcome than losing and having either the Ravens or Bills. Tomlin's group better get itself together, and quickly.
Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin looks in the direction of quarterback Justin Fields during a 2024 regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers Will Hear Fan Base Loud And Clear If Seasons Ends Up As A Failure
Some may call a successful year for Pittsburgh in 2024 to be one that ends with at least one playoff win. Others may be greedy and looking for a Super Bowl run. All in all, one thing is certain, and it's that the fan base is not going to be pleased if the team can't come up victorious in the tournament once again. Dating back to the beginning of the 2017 season, the Steelers haven't been able to win a game in the postseason. All the pressure is on in the coming weeks.
Do you think that the Steelers could beat the Bills in the first round of the playoffs? Let us know in the comments below!
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