The Pittsburgh Steelers punched their ticket into the playoffs even after a disheartening loss to the Eagles in Week 15. What we didn't know (and still don't) is who this team will be facing in Round 1 of the postseason.
The date and time of the season finale is always undetermined until we enter the final week. Following Sunday Night Football in Week 17, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Steelers will play their final game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, January 4.
Interestingly, this will be part of an AFC North doubleheader with the Ravens and Browns taking the field against each other at 4:30 p.m. This means that the Steelers will know the outcome of Baltimore's contest and whether the Ravens secured the divisional title.
If Baltimore loses, the Steelers only need to beat the Bengals at home in primetime action to host a playoff game in the Wild Card round. If not, Pittsburgh will be playing on the road — either as the fifth or sixth seed, depending on the outcomes around the conference.
Theoretically, if the Ravens win, the Steelers could treat their season finale against the Bengals as a bye week before the playoffs. Knowing their route to the Super Bowl begins on the road, Pittsburgh could rest starters in Week 18 and ensure his team is healthy heading into the Wild Card round.
But if you ask Mike Tomlin, this isn't an option.
The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach spoke to the media on Monday and was asked about potentially resting starters against the Bengals, depending on the outcome of the Ravens game, but he quickly brushed off the idea. Instead, Tomlin expressed how his team enters the playoffs is what's important.
Mike Tomlin says he hasn't thought about resting starters pending the outcome of the Ravens game.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 30, 2024
He's emphasized the importance of HOW this team goes into the playoffs and regaining momentum -- likely means starters will play regardless of Ravens-Browns outcome.
Steelers could have a difficult choice to make if Ravens beat Browns
There's no question that we will know the outcome of the Ravens vs. Bengals game around the time the Steelers are set to kick off against the Bengals in Week 18. If the Ravens win, the Steelers are left with one of two options: go all out against the Bengals in hopes of gaining momentum before the playoffs, or rest starters to avoid potential injuries ahead of the postseason.
There's a legitimate argument to be made for either decision.
The Steelers are on a disgusting three-game skid that includes ugly losses against the Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs in consecutive games. Almost out of necessity, Pittsburgh must ball out against the Bengals and build some much-needed confidence heading into the playoffs.
At the same time, what good does it do the Steelers to defeat the Bengals in the season finale if home-field advantage is unattainable? Is playing for the fifth seed instead of the sixth seed valuable enough to risk an injury to a star player before the playoffs?
This is the question Coach Tomlin needs to ask himself as we saw a similar scenario play out last season. In the 2024 regular-season finale, T.J. Watt suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain, which held him out of Pittsburgh's Wild Card playoff matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Winning a road playoff game without your best player is an impossible task, and the Steelers must ensure they are at full strength heading into the postseason.
I'm not even saying Tomlin is wrong in his decision to prioritize gaining momentum over added rest and recovery time in Week 18. But at the very least, the long-time head coach shouldn't be so quick to throw this notion to the side. It's a difficult conversation this team needs to have, and the coaching staff needs to have this discussion long before the Ravens play the Browns on Saturday.