Pittsburgh Steelers playoff scenario: How to make the postseason [UPDATED]

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Week 17 with some very slim postseason chances. Yet, after some help from the Patriots, Mike Tomlin and Co. aren’t out of it yet.

Pittsburgh didn’t start the year with playoff aspirations, especially in Year 1 without Ben Roethlisberger. Mitchell Trubisky started Week 1, and Kenny Pickett was the quarterback of the future.

Yet, the future became the present fairly quickly, as Pickett impressed in practice and was eventually named starter thanks in part to a Trubisky injury.

At 7-8 on the year, Pittsburgh still has some very slim playoff hopes. The team must win out or else they’ll eliminate themselves, but assuming they can defeat the Ravens and Browns, they also need some help.

Can the Steelers make the playoffs?

Mike Tomlin and Co. can make the postseason. Heading into Sunday’s action, Pittsburgh needed the Patriots to defeat the Dolphins, and for the Jets to lose to the Seahawks.

New England held on against a Tua-less Miami Dolphins team, thus delaying any chance Mike McDaniel’s squad has at the playoffs. The Jets and Seahawks face off in the 4 p.m. window, and a New York defeat is incredibly important to Pittsburgh.

If the Jets lose this week, then Pittsburgh must win out AND hope the Patriots lose to Buffalo in Week 18. The Dolphins will have to lose to the Jets in Week 18 as well.

It’s a complicated path, and one that is not guaranteed just yet. The Steelers face a tough road test against the Ravens on Sunday night, and Baltimore has plenty to play for themselves. Lamar Jackson will miss that game, however, which should help Pittsburgh’s chances.

The Steelers play the Cleveland Browns next week, which is no cake walk. Deshaun Watson threw three touchdowns for Cleveland in a victory over the Washington Commanders.