Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 Predictions: No.4 Seed In Playoffs, AFC North Title Is Most Likely Outcome

The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1) are fighting for their playoff lives with two weeks left in the 2018 NFL regular season. After playing like one of the league’s best teams through the first 11 weeks, the team is far from a guarantee to return to the postseason.

It appeared that Pittsburgh would cruise to another AFC North title and compete for a first-round bye when they lost just two of their first 10 games. The Steelers then went on a three-game losing streak, which coincided almost directly with the Baltimore Ravens’ three-game winning streak. Both teams were victorious in Week 15 and Pittsburgh maintained their half-game lead in the division.

If the Steelers fall out of first place, they are no guarantee to earn a wild-card berth. The No.5 seed is going to the Kansas City Chiefs or the Los Angeles Chargers, whichever team doesn’t win the AFC West. The Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans are all a half-game behind Pittsburgh as they battle for the No.6 seed.

What are the odds that Pittsburgh will most the postseason? The Steelers might need some help to get into the playoffs, but the upcoming schedule does work in their favor.

There’s a good chance Pittsburgh will lose in Week 16. They are set to visit the New Orleans Saints, who haven’t lost in the Superdome since Week 1 and might have the best home-field advantage in football.

Fortunately for the Steelers, the Ravens face an almost equally challenging task in their next game. Baltimore will visit the Chargers, who have won 10 of their last 11 games and are in contention to land the AFC’s No.1 seed. That contest will be played Saturday night, so Pittsburgh might enter Sunday’s contest knowing they can clinch the division title with a victory.

The Steelers are plus-210 underdogs against the Saints, per OddsShark. The Ravens are plus-180 underdogs.

If both the Steelers and Ravens lose in Week 16, Pittsburgh will be a heavy favorite to win the division.

Pittsburgh could potentially be the biggest favorite on the entire Week 17 schedule when they host the Cincinnati Bengals. In their last seven games, the Bengals have only beaten the Oakland Raiders at home. Oakland is tied for the NFL’s worst record with just one win on the road.

Baltimore will host the Cleveland Browns, one of the league’s hottest teams, in the season finale. The Browns have won four of their last five games. They’ve gone 4-2 since firing Hue Jackson and Todd Haley, only losing to the first-place Chiefs and Texans. Cleveland beat Baltimore earlier this season when Jackson was still the Browns' head coach.

Don’t expect the Steelers to get a wild-card berth. There’s a good chance that one of the Ravens, Colts or Titans will end the season with two more wins. Both Indianapolis and Tennessee are heavy favorites in Week 16. They’ll face off in the season finale.

A first-round bye is likely out of reach for Pittsburgh. They trail the two AFC West teams by 2.5 games. Houston is 1.5 games ahead of the Steelers. The New England Patriots are only a half-game ahead of Pittsburgh after losing to the Steelers in Week 15, but Tom Brady and Co. should be able to end the season with victories at home over the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.

That means Pittsburgh is likely headed for the AFC’s No.4 seed. Doing so would give them a first-round playoff matchup at Heinz Field with either the Chiefs or Chargers, both of whom have beaten the Steelers on the road this season.

The Steelers are looking to win their third straight AFC North title. They were upset in the Divisional Playoffs by the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.