The Pittsburgh Steelers are like an old movie villain that just…won’t…die.
Entering Week 15 with an AFC North-worst 6-6-1 record, the Steelers’ playoff chances are hanging by a thread.
In Week 14, the second-half heroics of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon’s two interceptions of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins nearly led the team to a comeback victory after trailing 29-0 in the third quarter.
It would have been the largest comeback in NFL history, but it was too little, too late.
Despite the 36-28 loss, Pittsburgh got some help in Week 14 with the Cleveland Browns beating the Baltimore Ravens, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beating the Buffalo Bills, and the San Francisco 49ers beating the Cincinnati Bengals.
Can They Make It Back To The Postseason?
The Steelers are trying make the playoffs for the second straight year.
However, they face an uphill battle to make the postseason yet are still are only 1.5 games behind the division-leading Ravens (8-5).
Heading into Week 15, The New York Times gives Pittsburgh a 13 percent chance of making the playoffs whereas FiveThirtyEight projects the Steelers have a 10 percent chance of making the postseason.
FiveThirtyEight gives the Steelers a five percent to win the AFC North and a less than 0.1 percent of a securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Here are the division standings:
- Ravens: 8-5
- Browns: 7-6
- Bengals 7-6
- Steelers 6-6-1
The Steelers’ remaining four games are brutal considering each opposing team has a better record than Pittsburgh as of Thursday night:
- Week 15: Dec. 19: Titans @ Steelers
- Week 16: Dec. 26: Steelers @ Chiefs
- Week 17: Jan. 3, 2022: Browns @ Steelers
- Week 18: Jan. 9, 2022: Steelers @ Ravens
Their remaining four opponents have a combined record of 33-19.
Other than maybe the Week 17 matchup against the Browns, the Steelers don’t have a game on their schedule where they will be favored to win.
In the short term, the Steelers get lucky considering the Titans will be without Derrick Henry who hasn’t played since Halloween due to a foot injury.
The Titans are 6-2 with Henry and 3-2 without him.
The Browns have 21 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list entering Week 15, which includes quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum.
As of Thursday night, the NFL was still plans for the Browns to host the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.
Plus, it’s unclear whether Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers due to an ankle injury.
The Ravens are decimated by injuries.
The Steelers have also several injuries of their own.
Lower body injuries have forced star edge rusher T.J. Watt in and out of the lineup, but he returned to practice on Thursday.
While the Steelers could also get cornerback Joe Haden (foot) back on the field, they’ll likely be without offensive tackle Zach Banner (knee) and defensive end Isaiah Buggs (ankle).
The team has played without Stephon Tuitt (knee) and Tyson Alualu (ankle) for a good portion of the season.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (shoulder) and tight end Eric Ebron (knee) are also expected to miss the remainder of the season.
TJ Watt upgraded to full participant in today’s practice. Alex Highsmith (quad) and Robert Spillane (knee) also full. Joe Haden (foot) was limited.
OT Zach Banner (knee) DNP. Isaiah Buggs (ankle) downgraded from full to DNP. pic.twitter.com/QI4ZLYxy4r
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 16, 2021
Pittsburgh’s playoff push this season has history at stake too.
Head coach Mike Tomlin is in his 15th season coaching the team.
Tomlin has never had a sub-.500 season as a head coach.
The Steelers have finished 8-8 in three different seasons during Tomlin’s tenure: 2012, 2013, and 2019.
Despite a 17-game regular season, a .500 record is possible because the Steelers tied the Detroit Lions in Week 10.
Plus, reports surfaced earlier this month that Roethlisberger has told teammates and some within the organization that he expects this to be his final season in Pittsburgh.
Roethlisberger, 39, is in his 18th season with the Steelers and in the final year of his contract.
Big Ben will give it his best shot in what could be his last NFL season.
Ben Roethlisberger in the 4th quarter:
🎯 1,216 passing yards (1st)
🎯 10 TDs (1st)
🎯 111.7 passer rating (4th) pic.twitter.com/vE9zxS5OMr— PFF (@PFF) December 10, 2021
The Steelers will need Roethlisberger in vintage form if they want to have a shot at making the playoffs.
NEXT: Has Chase Claypool Become Too Big Of A Distraction For Steelers?