Steelers get good news, bad news following Bengals’ win over Broncos

The NFL playoff picture shifted on Saturday… here’s what it means for the Steelers.

The NFL’s Dec. 28 Saturday tripleheader had some major playoff implications. The day’s first game, a clash between the Chargers and the Patriots, resulted in Los Angeles earning a playoff spot in the penultimate week of the regular season. The third game saw the Rams inch closer to clinching the NFC West.

The middle game didn’t end with the Denver Broncos clinching a playoff spot, prolonging the AFC seeding drama into Week 18. Instead, Denver fell in a dramatic, 30-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. At 9-7 following the loss, Denver still sits in the driver’s seat for the AFC’s lone remaining playoff spot, but the now 8-8 Bengals, 7-8 Colts, and 7-8 Dolphins remain alive in the playoff race.

Another team that was watching intently? The Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh has already secured a playoff spot this season, but after a three-game losing streak, the team’s final seeding is anything but decided. However, Denver’s loss guaranteed that Pittsburgh cannot enter the playoffs as the AFC’s seventh seed as Denver can’t finish with a better record than 10-7, and the Steelers, currently 10-6, hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The other three teams vying for the last playoff spot can’t finish better than 9-8.

By avoiding the No. 7 seed, the Steelers are unlikely to repeat last year’s postseason, where Pittsburgh earned the AFC’s last seed before traveling to Buffalo to lose to the No. 2 seeded Bills. This year, Buffalo is a near-lock to earn the No. 2 seed yet again as arguably the scariest matchup in the conference.

After the first half of Week 17, the Steelers are unlikely to face Buffalo and guaranteed to avoid the No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs.

While tough, the rest of the AFC playoff field is a better matchup; Pittsburgh has already beaten the Ravens, Chargers, Broncos, and Bengals this season.

The bad news following the Broncos’ loss on Saturday is that the Bengals, one of Pittsburgh’s bitter AFC North rivals, is still very much alive in the AFC playoff race and currently looking like one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Beyond just the mutual hatred between the two teams, it also means Cincinnati will have something to play for in its Week 18 matchup against the Steelers, making Pittsburgh’s season finale a tough one.

If there’s a silver lining for the Steelers, it also means Pittsburgh has a chance to knock its AFC North rival out of the playoffs for good in Week 18.

Right now, the Steelers would be heading to Houston on Wild Card weekend as the AFC’s No. 5 seed; a Steelers win and Ravens win in Week 18 would guarantee that. But a lot could still change — ESPN’s playoff machine has all the scenarios — including Pittsburgh winning and Baltimore losing in Week 18, securing the AFC North for the Steelers and a home matchup against the Chargers.

A Steelers loss and Chargers win would send Pittsburgh to the No. 6 seed, where the Steelers would likely travel to Baltimore in the first round of the playoffs. If the Chargers lose as well, Pittsburgh would keep the No. 5 seed and make the road trip to Houston.

The hypotheticals and playoff tiebreakers can get confusing. But from the Steelers’ point of view, it couldn’t be more simple: Pittsburgh’s top priority is beating the Bengals in Week 18.