Friday the 13th is traditionally a day for the superstitious. People avoid black cats, refuse to open umbrellas indoors, and worry about bad luck lurking around every corner.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the real nightmares don't involve ghosts or haunted houses. They involve third downs, missed tackles, and playoff football.
At 6-2 and riding a four-game winning streak, Pittsburgh has plenty of reasons to feel good about its season. But with a critical AFC North showdown against Cincinnati looming Sunday night, there's no shortage of potential bad omens.
13 things the Pittsburgh Steelers should be superstitious about
1. The ghost of playoffs past
Forget haunted houses. The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since Jan. 15, 2017. Seven consecutive postseason losses are enough to convince anyone that something supernatural might be involved. Pittsburgh has changed coaches, quarterbacks, and coordinators, but the postseason curse remains. Now it's up to Mike McCarthy to do what Mike Tomlin couldn't: put those postseason demons to rest. Someone might want to call an exorcist before January.
2. Joe Burrow with the football
If there's a monster lurking in Cincinnati this weekend, he's wearing No. 9. Burrow enters Sunday's game with 23 touchdown passes and has thrown at least four in four consecutive games. The Steelers defeated Cincinnati earlier this season, but giving Burrow another opportunity for revenge is hardly a comforting thought.
3. Third-and-long
There's nothing particularly frightening about third-and-8 until you're watching the Steelers offense trying to convert it. Pittsburgh went just 4-for-11 on third downs against Cleveland despite winning comfortably. Against stronger opponents, those missed opportunities have a way of returning to haunt you.
4. The red zone
The Steelers can move the ball between the 20-yard lines, but crossing the goal line can be an entirely different adventure. Aaron Rodgers acknowledged missed opportunities near the goal line against Cleveland. Field goals are nice, but settling for three points when six are available is a dangerous habit against elite quarterbacks.
5. The injury report
Nothing strikes fear into Steelers fans quite like the most recent injury report. Pittsburgh's wide receiver corps has been particularly snakebitten, with Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, and Ben Skowronek all missing time. Fortunately, Skowronek appears ready to return, while the team hopes to welcome Pittman and Wilson back soon. Derrick Harmon has also returned to practice but remains on injured reserve. With the schedule getting tougher, Pittsburgh needs healthy bodies more than a lucky rabbit's foot.
6. A comfortable lead
Steelers fans have learned that no lead is truly comfortable until the clock reaches zero. Even a two-score advantage can feel suspicious. Years of dramatic finishes have conditioned Pittsburgh supporters to expect the unexpected. If the Steelers lead by 17 in the fourth quarter, somebody will still be calculating how they could lose.
7. Baltimore Ravens
Every horror franchise needs a recurring villain. For Pittsburgh, Baltimore plays the role perfectly. The Ravens and Steelers have spent years turning ordinary football games into bruising survival contests. With two meetings still on the schedule, the Steelers should probably keep some protective charms in their lockers -- even with Lamar Jackson sidelined.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
Speaking of sidelined...
Philadelphia awaits Pittsburgh on November 22, and Lincoln Financial Field hasn't exactly been welcoming. The Steelers haven't won a road game against the Eagles since 1965. That's not a losing streak. That's an archaeological discovery. If any place calls for a little extra good luck, this might be it. I guess luck is already on their side, going up against a Philly team that's the worst it's been in years and with Jalen Hurts sidelined for the season.
9. The curse of the bye week
Rest is supposed to help teams recover, but it also raises the annual concern: Can a hot team cool off while sitting at home? Pittsburgh entered its bye riding four consecutive victories. The Steelers must now prove that their momentum survived the break, especially against a Bengals team with a top-ranked offense that's enjoying its own four-game winning streak.
10. The terrifying sight of a yellow flag
Fewer things can ruin a celebration in football than a penalty flag. A touchdown suddenly disappears. A defensive stop becomes an automatic first down. Steelers fans know the routine: check for a flag before cheering. Some flags feel almost personally directed at Pittsburgh.
11. Asking Chris Boswell to save the day
Chris Boswell has historically been one of Pittsburgh's most dependable weapons, but he's having a herky-jerky 2026 season. They don't want to have to put the game on his shoulders, let alone rely on him to rescue the offense in any given matchup. Even the Wizard of Boz can't be expected to work miracles every Sunday. And lately, his magic wand seems to be ... less magical.
12. The second-half schedule
Pittsburgh's 6-2 record looks promising, but the road ahead features the Bengals, Eagles, Broncos, Texans, and two meetings with Baltimore. That's enough to make anyone nervous, despite how most of those teams' seasons have gone to this point. The Steelers have earned their place atop the AFC North, but the second half of the season will determine whether they're legitimate contenders or a blip on the radar.
13. The number seven
For most Steelers fans, seven is supposed to represent the franchise's next Super Bowl championship. Instead, it currently represents seven consecutive playoff losses. That's a number worth fearing. Until Pittsburgh finally wins another postseason game, the elusive seventh Lombardi Trophy will remain more dream than destiny.
Can the Steelers break the spell?
The good news is that Friday the 13th falls two days before Pittsburgh's biggest game of the season so far. The Steelers won't need to worry about bad luck when they face Cincinnati on Sunday night.
They'll need execution, discipline, touchdowns and a defense capable of slowing Joe Burrow.
But if someone wants to hang a horseshoe above the locker-room entrance, it probably couldn't hurt.
After all, when your last playoff victory happened nearly a decade ago, perhaps a little supernatural assistance wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
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