The Steelers have clinched another winning season under coach Mike Tomlin, as they are 10-7 after beating the Ravens in the final game of the 2023 NFL Season. That win not only secures another 10-win season, but puts Pittsburgh in a solid position to reach the postseason.
Here's what needs to happen for Pittsburgh to earn a wild-card berth and join rival Baltimore, which already has clinched the AFC North and conference No. 1 seed, in the playoff field ahead of Super Bowl 58:
LIVE: Updated NFL standings, clinching scenarios for Week 18
Steelers playoff picture 2024
The Steelers are positioned as the No. 7 AFC team, just ahead of both the No. 8 Texans and No. 7 Colts, who are both 9-7. Indianapolis hosts Houston to close out Week 18's Saturday action.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, in terms of tiebreakers, they lost in blowout fashion earlier this season to both the Texans and Colts.
How Steelers get into the AFC playoffs in Week 18
The Steelers' winning their game in Baltimore improves the team to 10-7, and gives them a solid chance of reaching the postseason. They now need one of the following scenarios to play out:
The Bills lose to the Dolphins or ...
This would put the Steelers and the winner of Texans-Colts into the playoffs as the final two wild-card teams behind the Browns. The Bills would be left out as the only team in the resulting 10-7 trio without an above-.500 conference record.
... The Jaguars lose to or tie the Titans or ...
The Jaguars will go into the playoffs as the No. 4 seed and AFC South champions with a win over the Titans. However, if they fall to 9-7-1 or 9-8, along with one team from the Texans-Colts game, the Steelers and the Bills-Dolphins loser would be the final two wild cards.
... The Texans and Colts tie
In this scenario, the Bills or Dolphins would be a 10-7 wild card along with the Steelers. The Texans and Colts would be each 9-7-1. with either both teams out of the playoffs or one team winning the South based on the Jaguars' result.