6 scenarios for Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs
Scenario 2
With a win over the Chiefs, that helps; however they need to win their next two games. Now let’s assume they lose to the Cleveland Browns but beat the Baltimore Ravens in the final week of the NFL season. Well, then the Steelers will need a little assistance from the rest of the NFL. Especially the Green Bay Packers. If the Packers beat the Browns and the Steelers win the AFC North division and get a 4th seed.
The result of the Rams and the Ravens will not affect the Steelers. However, if the Bengals upset the Kansas City Chiefs, that will knock the Steelers out of contention of winning the AFC North.
So the Steelers will need the Chiefs to win if they want the 4th seed. However, if the Bengals beat Kansas City, the Steelers get the 7th seed instead. Still, they still make the playoffs regardless of whether the Bengals win or lose Week 18.
Thus a loss to the Browns would be bad and costly in terms of making the playoffs; the scenario does not present the worst problem for the Steelers. Because Pittsburgh tied the Lions earlier in the season, half a game in the winning percentage is the difference between the Steelers and the Browns, and the tiebreaker will not come into effect.