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NFL Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Playoff Picture Week 14: Pittsburgh Steelers’ Scenarios

By @calling_allfans

Pittsburgh Steelers

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) have been a difficult team to figure out — maybe not as difficult as the Cincinnati Bengals (8-3-1), but it’s hard to get a feel for Pittsburgh nonetheless. They began the season 3-3 and never really looked like a team that would truly compete in the AFC. Then Mike Tomlin’s crew won three consecutive games, including back-to-back wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens where QB Ben Roethlisberger threw six TDs in each game. Pittsburgh began moving up in everyone’s power rankings and they appeared to be a legitimate threat in the AFC. Then they inexplicably lost to the abysmal New York Jets and proceeded to go 1-2 in the three games following their three-game winning streak.

Pittsburgh has four games left: at Cincinnati, at Atlanta Falcons, home against the Kansas City Chiefs and home against the Bengals. Pittsburgh is currently seeded 10th in the AFC, but they are right in the thick of the AFC North and Wild Card races. What are the possible playoff scenarios for the Steelers?

It’s plausible they could go 2-2 in their last four games of the season, finish with a record of 9-7 and miss the playoffs because it’s going to take at least 10 wins to get in on the AFC side this season. If the Steelers split their two games with the Bengals and beat the Falcons and lose to the Chiefs, that’s 9-7 and Big Ben and the Steelers are watching the playoffs from home.

What about the AFC North? It’s possible the Steelers refocus and start treating these last four games like it’s the playoffs. If they do, maybe they finish 3-1 or even 4-0 in their last four games, including two wins over Andy Dalton and the Bengals, and they take the division. Dalton is better in 1 p.m. games, and three of the Bengals’ last four games are of that variety, including the two games against the Steelers, but Pittsburgh is capable of beating the Bengals twice. Plus, Dalton will have to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in Week 16. Pencil that in for a loss.

The Bengals (and Dalton) struggle in prime time games, and the Broncos are a good team. The Cleveland Browns (7-5) will play the Colts and Bengals at home followed by the Carolina Panthers and Ravens on the road. There could easily be two or three losses in there, especially with the Browns being a little wishy-washy about their QB. If the Steelers regroup, they can take care of business and finish ahead of the Bengals and Browns in the division.

That brings us to the Ravens (7-5) who split the season series with the Steelers. Joe Flacco and the Ravens have the easiest final four games of all four teams in the AFC North. They play at the Miami Dolphins, home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, at Houston Texans and home against the Browns. True, Miami is playing pretty well and they are in the thick of the playoff race, but their next two games are difficult. Although Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill is playing well, he’s more of a game manager right now, so isn’t it easier to trust Flacco? Baltimore could easily win at least three of their final four games and take the division.

The final scenario is Pittsburgh securing one of the two Wild Card spots. Two wins in their final four games won’t allow Pittsburgh to win the division, and it won’t be good enough to earn a Wild Card spot either. The Steelers would have to jump the Ravens, which will be difficult because Baltimore holds the tiebreaker based on head-to-head win percentage and they have the easier schedule. Plus the Buffalo Bills, Chiefs, Dolphins and San Diego Chargers are all currently ahead of Pittsburgh in the playoff race. 10-6 might be good enough, although a 10-6 team may get left out of the playoffs.

The Steelers can make the postseason, but they probably need to win at least three of their last four games and get some help.

Justin Patrick is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @calling_allfans, like him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google. You can also email him at [email protected]

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