The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have a ton of wiggle room in the postseason race. The team is currently holding onto the 4-seed in the AFC side of the bracket, and there’s slim chances they could move from that spot.
Still, with the holiday week here, there’s plenty of extra football to enjoy while we all take some much-needed time to relax with friends, family, and loved ones. So, it’s important to know who to root for in those other matchups.
Because the Steelers can’t move around too much, there isn’t much to it, but these four games are worth monitoring for Steelers fans across the NFL’s holiday schedule because of how they impact the playoff seeding.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans should monitor select Christmas weekend games
Houston Texans @ Los Angeles Chargers
The first Saturday game this week features two potential Wild Card teams, including the current 5-seed, the Los Angeles Chargers. If the season ended today, Pittsburgh would host the Chargers, a team they lost to on the road earlier this year, 25-10.
The Texans are surging, winners of seven straight, putting them at the current 7-seed.
If the Chargers win, the Wild Card seeds might not change at all before Sunday’s slate of games. If the Texans win, L.A. slides down to the 7-seed with a Week 18 game against the 1-seed Broncos to follow. Houston would jump to the 6-seed, putting the Bills at the 5-seed.
It’s a pick-your-poison situation for Steelers fans. The Chargers wouldn’t be able to get the 5-seed back if they lose to Houston, though losing out isn’t guaranteed to knock them out. So, if Houston wins, Pittsburgh is likely fixed to play Buffalo in the Wild Card round. Otherwise, it’ll remain a mystery for another week.
For that reason, I’m rooting for the Texans.
Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers
I don’t have to tell you to root against the Baltimore Ravens, but it doesn’t get much simpler than this: If the Packers beat the Ravens, the Steelers win the AFC North.
While Baltimore is dealing with a ton of issues, including another injury for Lamar Jackson, Green Bay isn’t doing much better. They lost Micah Parsons for the season recently, and Jordan Love left last week’s game with a concussion.
This one could get chaotic, but Steelers fans should be pulling hard for the Packers to take care of the Ravens a week early for Pittsburgh. It’s the least they could do for Aaron Rodgers, nearly 15 years after his Super Bowl win over the Steelers.
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Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars
There’s a slim chance the Steelers could bump up to the 3-seed if the Jacksonville Jaguars collapse in the final two weeks. But after they handled the 1-seed Denver Broncos last Sunday, Steelers fans probably shouldn’t hold their breath on that possibility becoming reality.
If the Colts win this week, then Houston jumps into a favorable position in the AFC South while the Colts keep their slim playoff hopes alive. That would also open the door for the Jaguars to fall into a Wild Card spot as they play Houston to end the regular season. Even if Jacksonville slumps that much, there’s no scenario where Pittsburgh should want Jacksonville to fall into a Wild Card spot.
Steelers fans should root for the Jaguars, if for no other reason, to create clarity quicker in the playoff field.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills just might be the Steelers' Wild Card round opponent. That said, if the first three games fell how I suggest Steelers fans should root for them to, Buffalo could end Week 17 as the 7-seed. A win at New York would likely bring them back up to the 5-seed, but only if Houston falls to Indianapolis in Week 18.
The Bills can’t learn much about their playoff fate this week, but they are playing one of the stronger teams in the NFC, and Steelers fans should keep an eye on them. Buffalo still looks like the team Pittsburgh saw in the first half of their matchup in Week 13, with just enough of the second-half version to keep their winning streak since that game alive.
For Steelers fans who want the field to settle as quickly as possible, as I do, root for Buffalo. The Bills wouldn’t be locked into the 5-seed, but it would be the most likely scenario if that’s how the chips fall. If you’d rather face the Texans or the Chargers in the postseason, root for Philly. Either way, this one won’t give Steelers fans definitive answers, but it should be a fun game and a great chance to scout one of Pittsburgh’s potential postseason opponents.