Steelers fans reeling as NFL playoff power rankings paint a grim picture

The Pittsburgh Steelers punched their playoff ticket with a solid stretch run. They've been trending upward, and some might posit that the team is peaking at the right time.

But to what end? Do the Steelers have a chance to make noise? Probably not, even in what feels like one of the most wide-open Super Bowl races in recent memory.

Pittsburgh's body of work in 2025 is not that of a legitimate contender. Whether Steeler Nation likes it or not, several indicators will ultimately lead you to that conclusion, including Eric Edholm of NFL.com's latest postseason power rankings.

NFL playoff power rankings hits Pittsburgh Steelers fans with uncomfortable truth

Edholm puts the Steelers at No. 12 -- out of 14 teams -- entering Wild Card Weekend. It's notably one spot higher than he had them ahead of Week 18. The marginal improvement is nice, though it highlights the bigger problem: this squad doesn't have enough to make a deep run.

As Edholm pointed out, oddsmakers also don't have much faith in the Steelers, considering they're home underdogs for their first-round showdown with the Houston Texans. He and sportsbooks see through the facade of Pittsburgh going 4-1 in their last five games:

"Pittsburgh has won four of five games heading into Monday's wild-card matchup with Houston, although it would be wrong to call this team 'hot' entering the playoffs," Edholm wrote. "Sunday's arduous win [over the Baltimore Ravens], along with the prior-week loss to the Browns, provided more than enough healthy skepticism about the Steelers' postseason chances -- starting with this first game, in which they’re home underdogs."

Beating the Texans' elite defense at Acrisure Stadium won't come easy. Yet, that may be the "softest" opponent the Steelers face if they survive and advance. Moreover, there's a good chance No. 4 seed Pittsburgh will be on the road in the Divisional Round and beyond, which further complicates matters.

By many metrics, the Steelers have been among the most mediocre clubs in the league this season. Still Curtain's own Tommy Jaggi highlighted their middling ways with a running list of key stats, and it speaks volumes.

Say what you want, but the numbers don't lie. The Steelers aren't good enough offensively to consistently outscore opponents, nor can they rely on their defense to make stops. It's a recipe for disaster, and a reality Pittsburgh fans should accept, if they haven't already.