With Kenny Pickett returning to begin at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the workforce nonetheless has paths to the playoff, albeit difficult ones.
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered their Week 9 bye with a 2-6 file, and had been seemingly on their approach out of the playoff image. Since returning, they gained 4 of their subsequent six video games, together with in Week 15 over the Carolina Panthers.
Again in Week 14, the Steelers had been with out beginning quarterback Kenny Pickett as a consequence of a concussion suffered early on of their recreation in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens. That pressured him to overlook the aforementioned Panthers recreation. However this weekend, the workforce cleared Pickett to return, and he’s anticipated to begin in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sitting at 6-8, the Steelers are nonetheless in playoff rivalry. Sure, you learn that proper. They will make the playoffs, however they want a number of issues to occur for that to turn into a actuality.
How the Steelers could make the playoffs, defined
In accordance with FiveThirtyEight, Pittsburgh has a 0.4 p.c likelihood of creating the playoffs previous to Thursday Evening Soccer. The Steelers have to win their three remaining video games in opposition to the Raiders, Ravens, and Cleveland Browns. However, that can solely enhance their odds to five.0 p.c.
They want a number of, and we imply a number of, issues to occur to sneak into the postseason.
One Reddit person detailed eventualities through which the Steelers could make the playoffs. You’ll be able to try it out within the FiveThirtyEight hyperlink above, and they’re going to lead to Pittsburgh clinching a Wild Card berth. Vital to notice, the “If Patriots win @ CIN or @ BUF” and “If Patriots lose @ CIN and @BUF” sections within the tweet beneath are linked to the “Chargers and Dolphins lose out” situation.
So, as you’ll be able to see, the Steelers will want both the Chargers or Dolphins (or each) to lose every of their remaining three video games along with successful out to have considerably of an opportunity. Then, they may want different outcomes to occur (largely involving the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans) to have the ability to clinch a Wild Card berth.
Once more, we advocate utilizing the playoff simulator linked above and the eventualities listed within the tweet to see for yourselves. However keep in mind, it’s all for naught if the Steelers lose one recreation on this remaining three-game stretch. In the event that they do, they’re out of rivalry.