With the loss to the Bengals in week 18, the Steelers will pull into the playoffs with four straight losses. They are the third team in NFL history to enter the playoffs on a three-game losing streak and the first to do it since the 1999 Lions. They went on to lose to Washington in the wildcard round. Mike Tomlin and the Steelers hope to snap that streak along with the seven-year playoff drought after the tough loss to Cincinnati.
The Bengals came into week 18 on a hot streak. They haven’t lost a game since week 13 when the Steelers put 44 points on them. For the first time in a month, the Pittsburgh defense showed up to play. Cincinnati drove down the field easily on the game’s first drive, but the Steelers’ defense tightened up from there. Pittsburgh was the only team to hold the Bengals under 24 points during their five-game win streak.
Pittsburgh’s offense only needed to be bad to win against the Bengals, but they couldn’t muster that up. With his offensive line melting and most of his weapons failing him, Russell Wilson played his worst game as a Steeler. He went 18 for 22 with 148 yards and one touchdown pass. He got sacked four times. Pat Freiermuth was his only trusted associate in week 18 as he hauled in eight passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Najee Harris added a touchdown in what could have been his last game at Acrisure Stadium. George Pickens was invisible all night, catching just one of his six targets for zero yards. Things got away from Pickens in week 18, but the Wild Card game will be a good chance to make things right. The Bengals won the game 19-17 and enjoyed themselves, playing Renegade by Styx in the locker room. They can enjoy it the whole way to Cancun. Better luck next year, Ohio.
Since 2016, the Steelers have been stuck in an endless loop of spinning out to end the regular season and get bounced in the first round of the NFL playoffs. This season, they lost their last four games. In 2023, they lost four of the last seven. 2020 saw them drop five of the last six games. They lost three out of four to end the season in 2019. Pittsburgh hasn’t been able to get over the hump in the final stage of the season.
Starting the season 10-3 and finishing 10-7 is embarrassing. Luckily for Tomlin and company, they have a chance to make it all right in the Wild Card game. They will go into Baltimore looking to upset the Ravens and move on to play Kansas City. A loss could send Pittsburgh into a dark offseason. A win can get a heavy monkey off of Mike Tomlin’s back. In an AFC North battle, anything can happen.
Tomlin and John Harbaugh have both been around forever but haven’t found playoff success lately. The two have met in the playoffs three times with Tomlin holding the upper hand, 2-1. Both coaches have a lot on the line in this game. Fans are getting restless for playoff success but neither legendary coach has been able to deliver. On Saturday, somebody must come out on top.
Despite the rough end of the schedule, the Steelers and their fans expect to be able to compete with the best teams in football, especially after starting the season 10-3. Pittsburgh went from leaders of the AFC North to down two games in the blink of an eye. Now instead of a home playoff game, they’ll get a warm welcome in Baltimore in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
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