Steelers Surge, But the Real Test Still Awaits
Three straight wins. A Baltimore stumble.
And just like that, the AFC North is back in play for Pittsburgh. On paper, it’s a turnaround that should have Steelers fans fired up.
But let’s pump the brakes just a little before we start handing out apologies or rewriting the season’s narrative.
Yes, the Steelers have clawed their way back into the playoff picture. That’s no small feat considering where they were just a few weeks ago.
Losses to Chicago and Buffalo had this team teetering on the edge. The offense looked disjointed, the defense couldn’t get off the field, and the noise around Mike Tomlin’s future was growing louder by the week.
Now? The conversation has shifted.
The Steelers are winning again. The locker room looks energized.
And Tomlin, as he’s done so many times before, has his team responding when it matters most. That’s not just coaching - that’s culture.
That’s leadership. That’s why he’s never had a losing season.
But let’s be real: the job isn’t done. Not even close.
The three teams Pittsburgh has beaten during this stretch haven’t exactly been world-beaters. Wins are wins in the NFL, but context matters - especially in December.
This isn’t about style points, but it is about sustainability. Can this team keep it rolling when the stakes get higher and the opponents get tougher?
And that’s where the skepticism creeps in. Because we’ve seen this before.
Under Tomlin, the Steelers have had a knack for rallying late in the season. They’ve punched their playoff ticket with gritty wins and timely performances.
But in recent years, that’s where the story has ended. Five straight postseason losses, including a stunning home loss to Cleveland - those aren’t just numbers.
They’re scars. And they’re hard to ignore.
So while this current run has injected some much-needed life into the season, it hasn’t erased the bigger questions. Can this team not just make the playoffs, but win once they’re there? Can they go toe-to-toe with the AFC’s elite - the kind of teams that don’t beat themselves and won’t fold under pressure?
That’s the hurdle. That’s the next chapter. And that’s why some fans - understandably - are still holding their applause.
Still, it’s hard not to enjoy the ride, at least a little. Beating Detroit?
That one had to feel especially sweet for Steelers fans surrounded by a newly confident Lions fanbase. That’s a bragging-rights win.
And in a league built on parity and pride, those moments matter.
But the bigger picture looms. The pressure isn’t just on Tomlin to get this team to the postseason - it’s to do something once they’re there.
Three playoff wins in his last 12 postseason games isn’t the standard this franchise is built on. And nobody knows that better than the man himself.
So, is everything good in SteelerNation? Not quite.
Things are trending in the right direction, no doubt. The team is playing with more urgency, more cohesion, and more belief.
But until that translates into January success, the doubts will linger.
No one’s asking for perfection. But after years of early playoff exits, fans are hungry for more than just a ticket to the dance. They want a team that can make noise once they get in.
If that happens, the apologies will come. And they’ll be well-earned. But for now, consider the optimism cautious - and the expectations unchanged.