Pittsburgh Steelers Among Top AFC Wild-Card Contenders, Climbing 2019 NFL Standings With Defense

The first five weeks of the 2019 NFL season were a disaster for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team was 1-4 and down to their third-string quarterback with a road game in primetime looming.

Pittsburgh hasn’t lost a game since, and they are very much in the race for a playoff spot.

The Steelers’ turnaround started in Week 6 when Pittsburgh beat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-17 on the road with Devlin Hodges under center. The undrafted quarterback only threw for 132 yards, but the defense forced three turnovers and was responsible for a touchdown in the victory.

It’s been the defense that’s led Pittsburgh on their current three-game winning streak. The Steelers shut out the Miami Dolphins in the final three quarters of their 27-14 victory in Week 8, recording four takeaways. A Minkah Fitzpatrick 96-yard interception return for a touchdown was the turning point in Pittsburgh’s 26-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday.

Mason Rudolph only threw for 191 yards and the Steelers didn’t reach 100 yards rushing in the Week 9 victory.

Pittsburgh ranks sixth in opponents’ yards per play. They are second in the NFL with 22 takeaways.

Pittsburgh is only a game behind Indianapolis for the final AFC wild-card berth. The Steelers now own the tiebreaker over the Colts.

The Baltimore Ravens still have a two-game lead over Pittsburgh atop the AFC North. Baltimore handed the New England Patriots their first loss in 2019 Sunday night.

The Ravens beat the Steelers in overtime in Week 5 when Rudolph was knocked out of the game with a concussion. The rivals will play again in Baltimore in the season finale.

The Steelers have been the second-best team in the division with a two-game edge over the Cleveland Browns. The Cincinnati Bengals are the NFL’s only remaining winless teams.

A week division could keep Pittsburgh in the playoff hunt for the rest of the season. After a difficult matchup with the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10, the Steelers will face the Browns twice and the Bengals once over their next three games.

Baltimore is the only team with a winning record in Week 10 that Pittsburgh will play on the road for the rest of the year. The Steelers will visit the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14. Pittsburgh hosts the Buffalo Bills in Week 15 before visiting the New York Jets in Week 16.

Buffalo is two games ahead of Pittsburgh in the wild-card race.

The Steelers are 3-0 against teams that are below .500.