It doesn't get much more disheartening than what we've witnessed from the Pittsburgh Steelers in recent weeks. In an 11-day stretch in late December, Mike Tomlin's team managed to go 0-3 against playoff-bound teams — getting outscored 40-90 in the process.
Pittsburgh looks like anything but a serious playoff contender these days. Luckily, the Steelers cashed their ticket into the postseason weeks ago. Now they received another unwarranted gift, courtesy of an AFC North rival.
As Steelers fans were still getting over the team's blowout loss against the Chiefs on Christmas Day, the Bengals squared off with the Broncos during the Sunday slate in Week 17. This game was knotted at 24 a piece heading into overtime, and the Bengals ultimately secured a 30-24 victory.
The win kept Cincinnati alive in the playoff hunt, but it did more than that. It ensured the Steelers would avoid the worst possible scenario in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Steelers will not have to play at Buffalo in Wild Card round
Steelers fans don't have a reason to thank the Bengals often, but in this case, they should. With Cincy's win over Denver, Mike Tomlin's team cannot be the seventh seed this year. This means that they won't have to repeat last year's dreaded scenario of playing the Bills in Buffalo for the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
The Bills are one of the best teams in the NFL this season with an MVP-caliber quarterback in Josh Allen and an impressive 13-3 record. Their 2024 dominance is backed up by their outstanding +164 in point differential this season — good for second in the league behind only the Detroit Lions.
No team wants to travel to Buffalo in the playoffs and square up against a red-hot team with a lethal quarterback. Thankfully, the results of Week 17 ensured the Steelers wouldn't have to face the Bills until at least the divisional round (if they're still in the playoffs by then).
Instead, the Steelers are looking at one of three outcomes for Round 1: playing on the road against Houston, on the road against the Ravens, or in Pittsburgh against the Chargers. Sadly, their most desirable scenario is the hardest to achieve at this point and would require a Steelers win plus a Ravens loss to the Browns in Week 18.
Fans are disappointed by the Steelers' meltdown we witnessed in December, but after avoiding the toughest route in the AFC Playoffs, hope remains... at least in the Wild Card round.