No sooner than the Packers game ended, fans had begun to write the Steelers off and began looking towards next year. Then they beat the Broncos.
Ok, yes, starting 1-3 does not bode well for any team. The average finish of any team starting 1-3 is usually 5-9, and in the history of the NFL, only 41 teams who have started 3-1 have made the playoffs. That said, in 1976 and 2002, the Steelers made the playoffs despite a 1-3 start. So bouncing back is not impossible, it’s just not overly probable.
That said, they beat the Broncos to improve their record to 2-3. That now gives the Steelers a 15% chance of making the playoffs. However, playoffs or not, let’s just look at the AFC North and how the Steeles win over the Broncos impacts their division.
Before the game, the Bengals, Browns, and Ravens were all 3-1, with the Steelers now 1-3. The Steelers then won, and the Bengals and Browns lost. They are both 3-2. The Ravens’ win over the Colts pushes them to 4-1.
So the Steelers are only one game behind the Bengals and Browns and three games behind the Ravens. Plus, the Steelers have a good chance to pull into a tie with one or two division rivals and perhaps gain ground on the Ravens as well.
The Steelers host the Seahawks on Sunday night. Usually, when the Steelers play Seattle, weird things can happen. In their last meeting, the Seahawks ended Roethlisberger’s 2019 season early. However, the Steelers may have a chance to go on a two-game win streak.