Could the Pittsburgh Steelers earn the lucky seventh seed in the playoffs?

Will the new addition of an extra playoff seed give the Pittsburgh Steelers the help they need to make the NFL Playoffs or will they fall short?

The race to the NFL playoffs has been entertaining. As players across the league remain focused on their assignments for the corresponding week, coaches and owners must find ways to sneak into the playoff picture. While organizations such as the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans prepare for a long off-season, teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers work to stay in the hunt.

Access to the post-season is not granted but earned. As the regular season closes, many have questioned if the Steelers are worthy of a spot in their conference bracket. An addition of a seventh playoff seed has granted teams around the league a reprieve for a lackluster season. This new opportunity has given the fans of the Steeler Nation a boost in morale. Despite Pittsburgh’s inconsistent performances this season, they still have a chance to hoist the Vince Lombardy trophy.

Early Season Woes as the team grows

Winning has not been an easy task for the men who represent the legacy of the Steel Curtain this season. The Steelers have struggled to gain momentum throughout their regular season. Early season losses to the Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders, and Green Bay Packers set the team back before the season even began. As Pittsburgh began to search for resolutions, other franchises across the league refused to wait for their resolve.

A solution was discovered in time for week five’s exhibition. Matt Canada produced enough offense to capture a win against the Denver Broncos. An increase of rushing attempts by Najee Harris allowed the Steelers more options in their offensive repertoire. The team’s success continued for three more games and the road to the playoffs appeared brighter than ever before.

Harris’ rushing performances could only carry the Steelers so far. Their performance against the Detroit Lions showed glimpses of the team’s slow start to the season. The absence of Pittsburgh’s veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger only added to the level of disfunction displayed on the field. Najee Harris’ increased rushing load was not enough to defeat the winless NFC North team. His twenty-six carries for one hundred and five yards rushing acted as points for fantasy owners as the Steelers tied in a disgraceful fashion.

Last Call For Playoff Seeding

Tying with a winless team put fire in the eyes of head coach Mike Tomlin. His reputation of being a winning coach was quickly on the line. With more games to play left on the schedule, the message was clear that Tomlin’s team was heading into a “fight or flight” situation. If the Steelers planned on playing for their seventh championship, they needed to find their groove in a hurry.

Finding a groove would not come easy for a team entering the most competitive part of the schedule. Tough opponents like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tennessee Titans were ready for their upcoming exhibition games. Pittsburgh was able to stand tall against two out of their six scheduled opponents, giving them a record of 7-7-1 heading into the last two weeks of regular season play. With the opportunity of winning the division potentially out of reach, the Steelers began to feast their eyes on the newly added seventh seed in the AFC.

How lucky is the number seven?

The addition of an extra playoff seed has made the journey to the playoffs more eventful than years prior. For some teams, the extra seeding will act as a life jacket that will keep their hopes of competing for a championship trophy afloat. Mike Tomlin and his staff understand that they could benefit tremendously from the change in playoff structure.

Pittsburgh’s 7-7-1 record has positioned the six-time champions three spots out of playoff contention. The Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers stand in the way of a wild card weekend for the faithful fans of Pittsburgh. Hope is not lost for the fans who cheer by their side.

If the Steelers can win their last two games against the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens, they could earn a playoff berth. With their championship dreams on the line, Ben Roethlisberger and his teammates must dig deep to take part in the post-season activities.