Steelers Playoff Picture: Updated Postseason Outlook After Week 14’s Win

Steelers Playoffs Week 14 Outlook

Getty GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 08: Outside linebacker T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff odds took a huge leap after last week’s 20-13 win over the Cleveland Browns and another win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14 put them in an even stronger position to claim one of the AFC’s two wild-card spots this year.

The Steelers (8-5) kicked off the second round of games Sunday afternoon with a 54 percent chance of reaching the postseason and can move within one game of the Buffalo Bills (9-4) for the first wild-card spot after they lost to AFC No. 1 Baltimore (11-2) earlier Sunday. The Steelers helped their own cause with a 23-17 win over the Cardinals, but the Tennessee Titans (8-5) are keeping it a contested race after smashing the Oakland Raiders (6-6).

Here’s a breakdown of the current AFC playoff picture after the Steelers’ win over the Cardinals along with an updated look at their playoff scenarios.

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Updated Look at the AFC Playoff Picture

Disclaimer: All projections will be updated live with relevant Week 14 final results

The Ravens beating the New England Patriots back in November allows them to control their fate as the top seed after officially clinching a playoff spot Sunday afternoon. They are being given a 75 percent chance now to lock up home-field advantage after the Patriots fell Sunday night to the Kansas City Chiefs with a straightforward path toward doing so: beat the Jets, beat the Browns and beat the Steelers to finish with a 14-2 record.

The Patriots (10-3) have now lost to all three of the AFC division leaders after falling 23-16 on Sunday in a game Kansas City dominated, but they are still in charge of the No. 2 spot for now. Meanwhile, the Chiefs (9-4) clinched their fourth straight AFC West title with the victory after the Raiders fell 42-21 to the Titans.

That last matchup also puts some heat on the Houston Texans (8-5) in the AFC South after they suffered a sloppy 38-24 loss to the Denver Broncos. With the Titans winning Sunday, the two are tied for the divisional lead going into a final stretch where they will play on another twice. Whichever loses out would be among the top wild-card competition for the Steelers.


A 10-6 Steelers Team Should Make the Playoffs

The Steelers have a remarkably good chance of making the playoffs if they can just win two more games against a lineup of the Bills, Jets and Ravens — the latter two being road games.

According to the New York Times’ playoff prediction system, winning any two of their final three games should give them nearly a 100 percent chance of locking up at least one of the wild-card spots in the playoffs. The same system gives them a 53 percent chance if they only beat the Jets and a 51 percent shot if they somehow only win in Baltimore.

In other words, Steelers fans, do what you love to do and keep rooting for your team to win. Unlike other teams around the league, destiny is still very much in Pittsburgh’s hands.

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