Pittsburgh Steelers' Playoff Chances Depend On Tennessee Titans, Game With Baltimore Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers need some help in order to make the playoffs. Even if the team is able to win their final game of the 2019 NFL season, their playoff chances will depend on another Week 17 matchup.

The Tennessee Titans are the AFC’s No.6 seed. Tennessee visits the Houston Texans Sunday afternoon.

Pittsburgh will enter the playoff picture if they win and the Titans either lose or tie. If the Steelers lose, they will need a Titans’ loss and a few other outcomes in order to reach the postseason.

The Steelers are scheduled to visit the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore beat Pittsburgh in overtime two and a half months ago.

The Oakland Raiders are mathematically in the playoff race, but they will be eliminated if either Pittsburgh or Tennessee avoids a loss.

Tennessee and Pittsburgh are both a game above .500. Because they share the same conference record and the same record against common opponents, strength of victory would determine the tiebreaker.

After a 1-4 start, the Steelers won seven of their next eight games to climb into the playoff picture. Consecutive losses to the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets have knocked Pittsburgh down to the AFC’s No.7 seed.

Ben Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1. Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges have since combined to give the Steelers one of the NFL’s worst quarterback situations. Since the start of November, the signal callers have thrown eight total touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.

The Titans have lost consecutive games against the Texans and New Orleans Saints. Tennessee had won six of their previous seven contests.

Houston and Baltimore have already won their respective divisions. The Texans will get either the No.3 or No.4 seed. The Ravens have secured the AFC’s No.1 seed, giving them nothing to play for in Week 17.

The New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs have won the conference’s other two divisions. New England is in the driver’s seat to earn the No.2 seed. Kansas City has a chance to earn a first-round bye.