In the final game of the season, the Steelers still have a chance to make the playoffs. They will need a win and some help from an AFC South team.
After a wrenching 16-10 loss to the Jets on Sunday, Steelers playoff fate no longer rests in their own hands. If the Tennessee Titans beat the Houston Texans this weekend, they will claim the 6th seed in the AFC playoffs, punching their ticket into the playoffs.
However, Pittsburgh still does have a chance to play January in the wildcard… If the Titans lose and the Steelers upset the Ravens, Pittsburgh clinches the 6th seed in the playoffs with a 9-7 record. With all this being said, can the Steelers beat the 13-2 Ravens?
The Ravens have officially clinched the 1st seed in the AFC playoffs at 13-3. This gives them a first-round bye in the playoffs and allows them to rest their key players this Sunday against the Steelers.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced earlier this week that Lamar Jackson, Earl Thomas III, Brandon Williams, Marshal Yanda, and Mark Ingram will be inactive against the Steelers on Sunday. Marcus Peters (chest) and Mark Andrews (ankle), are listed on the injury report and could miss time the game as well.
Throughout a season plagued by injuries and inconsistency on the field, the Steelers are in a position where they can still get into the playoffs. If you had told any fan prior to this season Pittsburgh could go 9-7 rotating Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges at quarterback with other skill positions such as Juju Smith-Schuster and James Conner battling injuries, they would have called you crazy. Nonetheless, Mike Tomlin has put his team in a position to make the playoffs and have a chance to keep fighting and keep their season alive.
With Baltimore’s inactive, it provides a very winnable game for the Steelers. Mason Rudolph and Pittsburgh played Baltimore close in week 5 of the season, losing 26-23 in overtime. On Sunday, Pittsburgh hopes to avenge this loss and with a little help from the Houston Texans, and lock themselves in the playoffs.