As the Pittsburgh Steelers head into Week 17 of the NFL season, they once again find themselves in a playoff conundrum. Mike Tomlin's team routinely relies on a mix of their success and the help of other teams, and this year is no different. Though the Steelers' ticket to the postseason is secure, their seeding for the Wild Card round is not.
After an impressive start to the campaign, the Steelers endured a rollercoaster ride through the middle of the season. Their five-game win streak in the heart of the year put them in contention for a strong playoff position. However, three consecutive losses in the latter part of the season have pushed them out of the top spots in the AFC standings, leaving them in a precarious position heading into the final regular-season game.
Despite the challenges, Pittsburgh still controls its destiny to a certain extent. A win in Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals is essential for the Steelers to stay alive for top seeding in the playoff hunt.
But even with a victory, they will need assistance from other teams to receive the playoff matchup they desire.
If the Steelers win and the Baltimore Ravens lose, Pittsburgh will clinch the third seed in the AFC playoff picture. On the other hand, if the Steelers win, the Ravens win, and the Los Angeles Chargers lose, Pittsburgh will secure the fifth seed. However, if the Steelers lose, and both the Ravens and Chargers win, they will fall to the sixth seed.
Steelers need to clinch the best position possible in the AFC Playoff Bracket
For head coach Mike Tomlin and his group, the stakes couldn’t be higher. While they are grateful for the chance to compete in the postseason, the Steelers’ recent downturn leaves much to be evaluated.
This team has struggled with consistency, particularly in the last few weeks. The Steelers’ performance over the past few games could have set them up for a more favorable position, but instead, they find themselves playing catch-up.
Steelers fans know this scenario all too well. Pittsburgh always starts strong, only to stumble at critical moments and squander opportunities for prime postseason positioning. The recent string of losses has exposed the team’s vulnerabilities, especially in maintaining momentum.
Pittsburgh now faces the daunting task of playing near-perfect football in their final divisional game. It would have been avoidable if they had approached the last few games more urgently and intentionally.
As the Steelers look to secure a playoff spot, the path forward will require both a victory and help from outside sources. The looming question remains: can the Steelers rise to the occasion when it matters most, or will they fall short of expectations?