The Pittsburgh Steelers’ hopes of finishing the 2024 NFL season strong took a major hit following their embarrassing Christmas Day loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The 29-10 defeat was a stark reminder of the inconsistencies that have plagued the Steelers in recent weeks. It also led to a drop in ESPN’s Power Rankings.
However, the demotion wasn’t a reflection of the dismal holiday performance. Instead, it reflected a culmination of a troubling stretch of games for Mike Tomlin’s squad. Over the past three weeks, the Steelers have dropped three consecutive games, following a five-game win streak in the heart of their season.
In those losses, Pittsburgh has been outscored 90-40—a statistic that speaks volumes about the struggles they’ve faced, particularly on defense. Known for their historically strong defense, the Steelers’ inability to stop opposing offenses during this stretch has been a blemish on the team’s reputation.
While their defense has been solid for most of the season, recent performances have raised doubts about their ability to compete with high-powered offenses in the playoffs. Against the Chiefs, the Steelers were exposed, especially in the second half, where they were outscored 16-3, showing cracks in defensive execution and offensive efficiency.
Steelers must use Week 18 to fix glaring issues before the postseason
As a result, ESPN now ranks the Steelers as the 10th-best team in the NFL, an eight-spot drop from the previous week. This slide comes at a critical juncture, with Pittsburgh still fighting to secure advantageous playoff positioning in a crowded AFC.
The Steelers’ playoff hopes are far from dashed, but they face a must-win scenario in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals to secure the AFC North division title. Winning the division is crucial for the Steelers to secure a favorable seeding for the postseason.
With the recent slide in mind, the Steelers must find a way to right their wrongs and snap their three-game losing streak. A win against the Bengals is the first step toward regaining respect and restoring their playoff momentum.
Mike Tomlin’s team must come together, refocus, and correct the mistakes that have plagued them in recent weeks—most notably their defensive lapses and an offense that has failed to capitalize on opportunities.
The road to redemption is clear: the Steelers must end the regular season on a high note to avoid entering the playoffs with lingering doubts. If they can do that, they’ll have a chance to prove they still belong among the league’s elite teams.