Steelers simple path to playoffs revealed after wild Week 16 win

The road to the postseason for the boys in Black & Gold just got a whole lot easier.

Say what you will about the end of that Pittsburgh Steelers-Detroit Lions game. The better team on the day won that contest.

Pittsburgh completely shut Detroit’s running game down (the Lions had 11 rushes for 16 yards) and rushed for 200+ yards themselves. Only a furious late comeback from the Lions made the game—which ended 29-24—exciting at the tail end.

The unlikely win (Pittsburgh were underdogs by over three points) wasn’t just dramatic, however. It was massively impactful for the Steelers’ playoff chances, as it ran their record to 9-6. 

Pittsburgh’s win paired with the rival Baltimore Ravens choking away a late lead on SNF (dropping them to 7-8) resulted in the simplest possible road to the playoffs the Steelers could ask for: win and you’re in.

Steelers just need to win one of their final two games

If the Steelers beat the 3-12 Browns on the road in Cleveland in Week 17, they clinch a postseason berth as well as their first AFC North title since 2020. They would also secure the division title if the Ravens lose to the 9-5-1 Green Bay Packers on the road at iconic Lambeau Field.

Both the Steelers and Packers are favored to win those games. But in the NFL, nothing is guaranteed. Pittsburgh’s only real weapon in the passing game, DK Metcalf, is suspended for the final two contests of the campaign.

And if the opposite happens—the Steelers lose and the Ravens win—Pittsburgh would be 9-7 and Baltimore would be 8-8. The final matchup between the two teams in Week 18 would then decide the division.

Pittsburgh wins, they finish 10-7 and get in. But if the Ravens win that one, both teams would be 9-8 and Baltimore would get in because the Steelers will have lost two straight division games to lose the divisional record tiebreaker.

Ravens two-time MVP QB Lamar Jackson may be questionable after being ruled out of their SNF loss in Week 16, but backup Tyler Huntley is no slouch. He’s a pro too.

Huntley, however, much like Jackson, has largely struggled against the Steelers. Despite starting only 15 games in his career, Huntley has started three times against the Steelers in the final game of the season. He has lost all three of those: 16-13 in OT in 2021, 16-13 in 2022, and 17-10 in 2023.

Neutrals will be praying for Ravens and Browns wins in Week 17, but in all likelihood, the Steelers punched their ticket to the playoffs early by beating the Lions.