Steelers playoff picture: How Pittsburgh can clinch AFC wild-card spot in Week 18

Vinnie Iyer

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Steelers playoff picture: How Pittsburgh can clinch AFC wild-card spot in Week 18 image

The Steelers will not be repeating as AFC North champions in 2021. But at 8-7-1 going into Week 19 of the 2021 NFL season, they still have an outside chance of making the AFC playoffs as a wild-card team.

Pittsburgh no longer can win the division because Cincinnati (10-6) wrapped up that title in Week 17 with its big comeback win over Kansas City. SN breaks down the Steelers' lone remaining path to the postseason:

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Steelers playoff picture for Week 18

The final two playoff teams in the AFC going into Week 18 are the No. 6 Colts (9-7) and No. 7 Chargers (9-7). The No. 8 Raiders (9-7) are also ahead of the Steelers. The No. 10 Ravens (8-8) are just behind.

But the Week 18 schedule has the Chargers playing at the Raiders and the Steelers playing at the Ravens. That, along with the Steelers having an unique record because of their tie, makes their playoff scenario easy:

1. The Steelers must win

By beating the Ravens, the Steelers would improve to 9-7-1. The Ravens are in a similar situation of needing to win their final game and needing help.

2. The Colts must lose

The Colts could have earned a playoff berth as a wild card behind the AFC South-winning Titans in Week 17, but they made things more interesting by losing to the Raiders at home. The Steelers need the Colts to stay cold and be upset at the Jaguars in Week 18.

MORE: Complete NFL playoff picture for Week 18

3. The Chargers or Raiders must win

In other words, the Chargers or Raiders must lose (with the other team winning, of course) in Week 18. As long as their game doesn't end in a tie, putting both teams at 9-7-1, the Steelers would be in with wins over the Browns and Ravens coupled with a loss by the Colts.

The Steelers cannot make the playoffs if the Chargers and Raiders are 9-7-1 with them. Why? They lost at home to the Raiders in Week 2 and lost on the road to the Chargers in Week 11. The Chargers would make the playoffs in this case.

Should all three things happen, the Steelers would be 9-7-1 by themselves, a half-game ahead of the Colts at 9-8. Either the Chargers or Raiders would be a half-game ahead of the Steelers at 10-7, and the other team would be a half-game behind at 9-8.

The best the Steelers can do is the No. 7 seed, with the Colts eliminated and the Chargers-Raiders winner moving up to No. 6.

Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer Photo

Vinnie Iyer, has been with TSN since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. A native of St. Louis, Mo. but now a long-time resident of Charlotte, N.C. Vinnie’s top two professional sports teams are Cardinals and Blues, but he also carries purple pride for all things Northwestern Wildcats. He covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including player evaluations, gambling and fantasy football, where he is a key contributor. Vinnie represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network. Over his many years at TSN, he’s also written about MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, tennis, horse racing, film and television. His can’t-miss program remains “Jeopardy!”, where he was once a three-day champion and he is still avid about crossword puzzles and trivia games. When not watching sports or his favorite game show, Vinnie is probably watching a DC, Marvel or Star Wars-related TV or movie.