How Steelers can make the NFL playoffs: Scenarios, remaining schedule and postseason chances
The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) have a long shot at making the playoffs, but it's still a shot.
This season has featured a quarterback carousel and questions about effort. With one final regular-season game left to play, Pittsburgh is the only team in the AFC North whose playoff fate is yet to be decided.
The Baltimore Ravens clinched the division title and the No. 1 seed in the conference, and the Cleveland Browns have secured a wild-card spot and the No. 5 seed. Pittsburgh is playing for its own wild-card spot.
The Cincinnati Bengals were eliminated from contention with last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
It's been 13 years since the Steelers last went to the Super Bowl and 15 since they hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. Will they get the opportunity to win the championship yet again?
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Steelers playoff scenarios
The Steelers are ninth in the AFC playoff standings and "on the bubble," according to the NFL, with a 29% chance of getting into the postseason.
There are five scenarios where Pittsburgh gets into the playoffs:
- Steelers win against Ravens AND Bills lose to Dolphins OR
- Steelers win against Ravens AND Jaguars lose or tie against Titans OR
- Steelers win against Ravens AND Texans and Colts tie OR
- Steelers tie against Ravens AND Jaguars lose to Titans AND Texans and Colts doesn't end in tie OR
- Jaguars lose to Titans AND Broncos win against Raiders AND Texans and Colts doesn't end in tie
Steelers remaining schedule
Pittsburgh has one regular-season games left in the 2023 season:
Week 18 at Baltimore Ravens (13-3), 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium
Will the Steelers make the playoffs?
After beating the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17, the Steelers greatly improved their chances of making the 2023 postseason. Before the game, the NFL didn't even include them in its official list of playoff scenarios, but Pittsburgh now has five clear scenarios to punch a postseason ticket.
This team has seen its fair share of troubles this season. Whether it's maturity issues or sheer talent, Pittsburgh simply hasn't been up to par with the rest of the league. Even when the Steelers were winning at the beginning of the season, they didn't have a game where their offense outperformed the opponent.
It seems there's positive momentum with two consecutive wins behind Mason Rudolph. The Ravens have already locked up the division and the No. 1 seed, so there is a good chance they won't be going full gear against the Steelers to protect Lamar Jackson and the starters. This gives Pittsburgh more hope for the victory than if Baltimore was gunning for its own playoff spot.
But it's not a win-and-in situation. There are too many other factors at play to say the Steelers will get into the playoffs.
