What's so great about the NFL is that the tides can shift at a moment's notice. The teams that were once powerhouses in the AFC (like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills) have come crashing down to earth. This is a great sign that a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers might actually stand a chance if they are to secure a playoff spot.
On Thursday Night Football, the Bills kicked off Week 12 with a performance against the Houston Texans. The Texans were without starting quarterback—and former Pro Bowler and Offensive Rookie of the Year—C.J. Stroud for the third straight week.
Entering the night, Houston sat on a 5-5 record with backup quarterback Davis Mills getting set to go toe-to-toe with superstar QB Josh Allen. But it only took a few hours for the Texans to prove just how wide open the AFC playoff race truly is.
In a game in which Mills completed just 16 of 30 passes for 153 yards and two scores, the Texans found a way to upset Allen and the Bills. This was largely thanks to their top-ranked defense. However, it's not the outcome that was expected, considering the Texans have routinely had poor performances from their offensive line all season and were starting a backup quarterback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers actually have a shot to compete in the postseason this year (if they make the playoffs)
With a Buffalo loss, the Steelers could tie the Bills with a 7-4 record if they take care of business against the Chicago Bears in Week 12. Meanwhile, the only teams higher than Pittsburgh in the standings right now are the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and the Indianapolis Colts (and the Steelers already hold tiebreakers over two of these teams).
If Pittsburgh takes care of business down the stretch and punches its card into the playoffs, no reason to think they couldn't potentially make a splash.
The teams we thought would be most threatening this year have been anything but. The Bills are heavily reliant on quarterback Josh Allen without much talent from the supporting cast, while the Chiefs, who sit on a 5-5 record, are far from guaranteed to make the playoffs this year.
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Considering the Steelers have already beaten teams like the Colts and Patriots, there's at least a shot they could do it again in the postseason. To have a real chance, we need to see improvement from the offense, and Pittsburgh's defense plays more consistently. But there's still time to heat up before the end of the season.
Here's the hard part: the Steelers are far from a lock to make the postseason. With upcoming games against the Bears, Bills, Lions, and two against the Ravens, we could see Mike Tomlin's team spiral late in the season. However, if they find a way to enter the tournament, they at least have a shot in a wide-open AFC race this year.