How Steelers can still make a legitimate push for the playoffs

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have lost to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, but here’s why they still have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.

Though the Steelers may have fallen to 5-5 after a disheartening loss to the Cleveland Browns, not all is lost. It’s never easy to see injuries mount up, and Pittsburgh must face an uphill battle yet again if they are to keep their playoff hopes alive.

While sitting on a .500 record far from assures the Steelers a spot in the AFC playoffs, it’s still entirely possible to reach the tournament.

In their final six games, Pittsburgh has matchups against the Bengals, Browns (at home this time), Cardinals, Bills, and Jets. These teams currently have a combined record of 15-31-1, and with the way their defense is playing, it’s possible that Pittsburgh could emerge victorious in each of these contests.

Their biggest test will come in the final game of the year on the road against the  Baltimore Ravens – a game that could ultimately make or break the Steelers season.

I recently predicted the outcome of each Steelers game for the second half of the season and found the Steelers to come away with a record of 9-7. If this is the case, Pittsburgh will likely fall short of playoff contention. However, 10 (or perhaps even 11) wins is still within the realm of possibility.

The Steelers should be able to take care of business against the Jets and Bengals pretty easily. They also get the 4-6 Browns at home in a game they will be seeking revenge for after the late-game brawl. I do, however, worry about their west coast matchup against the Cardinals on December 8th, and the Steelers often struggle in these types of games against uncommon opponents.

If they can split between the Bills and the Ravens game, they could be looking at 10 wins to finish the season if all goes according to plan. That may be enough (barring tiebreakers) to get the job done.

The health of Steelers players will be a determining factor in how far Pittsburgh may go this season. In reality, however, this season hinges on whether or not Mason Rudolph can finally take a step forward and become the quarterback Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert hoped for when they drafted him in 2018.

Let’s be honest: There isn’t a ton of hope for the Steelers even if they somehow make it to the playoffs. There is no question Pittsburgh has a favorable second-half schedule. If they can start to get things moving on offense, they could make a late-season push for the playoffs.