The Steelers aren't a good football team, and don't deserve to be in the playoffs this season. But there is a slight (okay, 'slight' might be generous) chance that they could still get in.
Currently, the Steelers (5-8) have less than a 1 percent chance of reaching the postseason. That number, even if the team wins out, goes up to 2 percent.
The Steelers would, essentially, have to win their remaining four games to finish 9-8, and have multiple teams ahead of them lose out, since Pittsburgh currently loses the head-to-head tiebreaker with four teams ahead of them and in wild card contention.
And that's what's hurting Pittsburgh the most, their close, early season losses to the Patriots (7-6) and the Jets (7-6). The team's 16-10 loss in Miami (8-5) is also keeping them out of true contention and this past week's loss to Baltimore all but buried them.
Of the Steelers' eight losses, four have come by six points or less. Another came by 7 points.
Pittsburgh's Week 2 loss to the Patriots, 17-14, could have been prevented, or at least given more of a chance, had the team made a stop on either of New England's two 3rd down plays on its 6:33 drive to finish the game.
The 24-20 Week 4 loss to the Jets likely does not occur without Kenny Pickett's interception, which bounced of the hands of Pat Freiermuth, with 3:34 left and up 20-17 in Jets' territory. New York scored with 16 seconds left to win the game.
The Week 7 defeat in Miami was a result of Pickett's three interceptions, including one in which former Steelers wide receive Chase Claypool fell down, and two more that occurred in field goal range. Pickett, that week, was coming off a concussion, and was limited in practice that week.
And, lastly, this past Sunday, the Steelers had numerous chances to beat Lamar Jackson-less Baltimore, as Mitch Trubisky threw three interceptions on the Ravens' side of the field. There was also a blocked kick early in the 4th quarter that would have been enough for Pittsburgh to win.
Take away the interception against the Jets, make a stop against the Patriots and don't allow a blocked field goal Sunday, and the Steelers could theoretically be 8-5 and currently sitting in a Wild Card position.
But that's not what happened. And, yes, this is revisionist history. And yes, NFL games are largely decided by a couple of plays here and there, and those games could have broken a variety of ways. And, ultimately, the Steelers' flaws — ineffective offensive play, the inability to stop the run, one of the league's worst special teams units, etc. — have factored into all of these plays breaking the other way.
And now that leaves Pittsburgh — with four losses decided bye 15 points — still 'in the hunt,' but one in which the several other hunters have high-powered rifles, and the Steelers are throwing pebbles.
Draft position
The silver lining to losing? Better draft position.
The Steelers are currently one of seven teams with a 5-8 record. Because of tiebreakers, they have the second-worst draft slot of those teams.
Pittsburgh is currently in line to pick 13th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Las Vegas, Carolina, Atlanta, Jacksonville and Houston (which owns Cleveland's pick) all are scheduled to draft ahead of the Steelers despite having the same record. Green Bay is also 5-8.
The Steelers could, theoretically hop over at least three of those teams still, with games against the Raiders, Panthers and Browns still to come.
The Steelers are also just one game out of a top 5 or 6 pick in this coming draft. Only Houston, Seattle (which owns Denver's pick), Chicago, Detroit (which owns the Rams' pick), Philadelphia (which owns New Orleans' pick), Arizona and Indianapolis are teams ahead of the group of 5-8 squads.
One more silver lining? The trade of Chase Claypool is looking like a great one for Pittsburgh. The Bears, which acquired Claypool, would have the 33rd overall pick in the draft. But that belongs to the Steelers, which also own the 43rd overall pick.
The move of Claypool, who has 12 catches for 111 yards in five games — all losses — with Chicago, should give the Steelers the opportunity to rebuild key parts of their team quickly with young, promising players.
