The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent much of this season grinding through adversity, waiting for the tide to turn. Now, after a gritty win over the Baltimore Ravens and some timely help from around the AFC, the picture has finally started to shift in their favor. With just a few weeks left in the regular season, Pittsburgh is in control of its own postseason destiny - but the path ahead is anything but smooth.
A Division Tilted in Pittsburgh’s Favor - For Now
Sunday’s win over the Ravens was more than just a tally in the “W” column. It was a pivotal swing in the AFC North standings.
The Steelers moved to 7-6, while the Ravens slipped to 6-7. Elsewhere, the Bengals dropped to 4-9 after falling to the Bills, effectively knocking them out of the division race.
And with the Browns losing again - now sitting at 3-10 - Cleveland has officially been eliminated from playoff contention.
That leaves Pittsburgh and Baltimore as the two teams still standing in the AFC North title race. And with the Ravens and Bengals squaring off this weekend, plus two more divisional matchups left on Pittsburgh’s schedule, Mike Tomlin’s squad has a very real shot at punching its ticket to the postseason. But the margin for error is slim.
The Road Ahead: Three Games That Will Define the Season
Up next, the Steelers return home to host a streaking Dolphins team that’s quietly climbed back into the playoff picture. Miami, now 6-7, has rattled off five straight wins - including a gritty overtime victory over Washington and a statement win against Buffalo. But it’s worth noting that three of those wins came at home, and three came against teams with losing records.
This Monday night showdown at Acrisure Stadium will test how well the Dolphins travel - especially into a cold-weather environment, under the primetime lights, against a Steelers team that’s starting to find its rhythm. If Pittsburgh can handle business and stack back-to-back wins for the first time since Week 6, they’ll head into a tough road matchup against the Detroit Lions with momentum on their side.
Now, this Lions team isn’t quite the same feel-good story from last year - they’ve evolved into a legitimate offensive juggernaut. Detroit is putting up over 30 points per game, and they’re doing it with balance: top-five units in both the run and pass game.
Defensively, they’re opportunistic but not dominant - a lot like Pittsburgh. If they’re not creating turnovers, they can be vulnerable.
Even if that game tilts in Detroit’s favor, the Steelers have a bounce-back opportunity the following week with a trip to Cleveland. The Browns’ offense has struggled all season, and while their defense is elite against the pass, the team as a whole is trending in the wrong direction.
At 3-10, this is a franchise that looks like it’s already thinking about next year. Pittsburgh can’t afford to overlook them - but it’s a game they should win.
Keeping an Eye on Baltimore
Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. The Ravens are still very much in the hunt, just one game behind the Steelers. Pittsburgh owns the head-to-head edge for now, but a slip-up or two could swing the division right back to Baltimore.
The Ravens have their own gauntlet to run. They’ll face the Bengals this weekend in a rivalry game that always seems to bring out the unexpected.
Then comes a home matchup against the 11-2 Patriots - one of the toughest teams in the league this season. After that, it’s a road trip to Green Bay to take on the 9-3-1 Packers, and then they close the season with a visit to Pittsburgh.
That final game could be huge. If the Ravens manage to win their next three and the Steelers drop two along the way, Week 18 could become a de facto AFC North championship game. Even if Baltimore enters that game a game behind, strength of schedule could come into play as a tiebreaker if both teams end the season with identical records.
The Bottom Line: Handle Business Now, Control the Finish
For Pittsburgh, the formula is simple: win two of the next three, and beat Baltimore in the finale. That would all but seal the division and lock up a playoff berth. A loss to Detroit wouldn’t be catastrophic - it’s an out-of-conference game - but anything more than that could open the door for the Ravens to sneak through.
This Steelers team has shown resilience all year. Now it’s time to show consistency. The next three weeks will determine whether they’re simply a team that fought hard to stay alive - or one that kicks the door down and reclaims its place in the postseason.