Steelers playoff odds soar after statement Week 7 win vs. Jets

The Steelers went through a rough stretch early in the season. After beginning the year 3-0, Mike Tomlin's team saw a two-game skid against the Colts and Cowboys in back-to-back weeks. Fortunately, Pittsburgh righted the ship in a big way.

Over the past two games, the Steelers have cruised to victory -- outscoring their opponents 69-28 during this span. Their latest victory is a 37-15 thumping over the NY Jets on Sunday Night Football.

In Russell Wilson's debut performance on SNF, Pittsburgh's offense showed more promise than it had all season. The Steelers scored every time they possessed the football in the second half against the Jets. The impressive all-around team performance led the Steelers to a 5-2 record entering Week 8.

The latest surge from Pittsburgh is reflected in updated playoff odds. Entering Week 8, the Steelers are now -220 odds to make the playoffs, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. This is better than the 49ers' chances of entering the postseason. Who would have thought this would be the case?

Steelers' playoff odds should be even better

While oddsmakers believe the Pittsburgh Steelers stand a good chance to make the playoffs, their odds should be even better. In comparison, the Baltimore Ravens have astoundingly high odds of making the playoffs at -1600. Even the Bengals still have -110 odds to make the playoffs after a very slow start to the season.

According to the most updated playoff predictor from ESPN, the Steelers have an 82 percent chance of making the postseason. Shockingly, they have only a 31 percent chance to win the division and a seven percent chance of making it to the Super Bowl.

This could all change at a moment's notice if they defeat the Ravens in their head-to-head matchups later in the year. The Steelers have yet to play a divisional game, and how they fare in the AFC North in the second half of the season will impact their playoff odds.

Still, with Russell Wilson inspiring hope and a Pittsburgh defense playing lights-out football, the Steelers feel like a shoo-in to land at least one of the three Wild Card spots in the AFC this year.

It's football and anything can happen from here on out. However, fans should be encouraged by Pittsburgh's impressive playoff odds entering Week 8. This team is trending in the right direction and approaching 'true contender' status as the season marches on.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.