The Steelers (8-7) were hoping to get closer to locking down an AFC wild-card spot in the NFL playoff picture in Week 16. Instead, after seeing the Bills (10-5) secure the top wild-card ahead of them last week, the Steelers lost control of a playoff berth going into Week 17.
The Ravens (13-2) have already put the AFC North out of reach, clinching the division last week and the top seed this week. The AFC East-champion Patriots (11-3) and AFC West-champion Chiefs (10-4) are two more guaranteed playoff teams. On Saturday, the Texans clinched the AFC South, earning a playoff spot and leaving just one available in the AFC.
NFL PLAYOFF PROJECTIONS:
Predicting seeds, matchups for AFC and NFC
Thus, the Steelers are staring at the No. 6 seed or staying at home for a second consecutive postseason after an 0-3 start to 2019.
Here are the remaining ways they can save their fading playoff hopes in the final week of the regular season.
Steelers beat Ravens and Titans lose to Texans in Week 17
The Steelers can no longer match the Titans record-wise, at either 9-7 or 8-8, to make the playoffs. In those cases, both the Steelers and Titans would be either 7-5 or 6-6 in AFC play. The next tiebreaker is common games. That doesn't help, because both teams would be 3-2.
It would then come down to strength of victory, where the Titans have the edge, helped by their beating the Chiefs and the Saints while two of the Steelers' wins came over the Bengals.
The Steelers could rebound from the loss to the Jets and beat the Ravens to get in this way, finishing 9-7 while the Titans go 8-8.
The Titans losing to the Texans in Week 17 is a strong possibility since Houston is still playing for seeding.
MORE: Playoff clinching scenarios for Week 16
Steelers lose to Ravens, Titans lose to Texans, Colts beat Jaguars in Week 17 (and Raiders lose once)
The Steelers can make the playoffs at 8-8, assuming they and the Titans have some company in the standings.
The Colts (7-8) can also get to that record, and so can the Raiders (6-8), who are battling the Chargers in Week 16 before playing the Broncos in Week 17.
Should the Steelers and Titans both lose in Week 17, they would want the Colts to beat the Jaguars and the Broncos to beat the Raiders (unless Oakland is eliminated in Week 16).
A four-way tie at .500 between the Steelers, Titans, Colts and Raiders goes to the Raiders. A three-way tie between the Steelers, Titans and Raiders goes to the Titans. So without a win, the Steelers can get in only by a 8-8 tie with the Titans and Colts.
