Steelers playoff picture: Updated chances for Pittsburgh to make 2025 NFL postseason in Week 15 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The expectations coming into this season for the Pittsburgh Steelers were certainly capped. With head coach Mike Tomlin not having much recent success and the addition of Aaron Rodgers, no one took the Steelers seriously.
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Now here they are in Week 15, strongly contending for a playoff spot. It also helps that the AFC North has been a disaster for most of the season. The Cincinnati Bengals’ season practically ended in Week 2 when quarterback Joe Burrow went down. The Baltimore Ravens have been shockingly bad with or without Lamar Jackson, and the Cleveland Browns — well, they’re the Cleveland Browns.
You can’t criticize the Steelers for taking care of business; they just went into Baltimore and stole a win from the Ravens. This was by far Rodgers’ best game passing the ball, especially to DK Metcalf, who surpassed 100 receiving yards for the first time since Week 4.
Now Pittsburgh finds itself in a legitimate battle for the playoffs heading into Week 15. On Monday Night Football, the Steelers will host the red-hot Miami Dolphins.
Here’s more on the Steelers’ 2025-26 postseason chances heading into Monday Night Football.
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MORE WEEK 15 NFL:
Steelers playoff picture
As of entering Monday Night Football in Week 15, the Steelers are the No. 4 seed in the AFC. This is mainly because they lead the AFC North through Week 14.
After beating the Ravens, the Steelers have grabbed this spot from Baltimore. However, Next Gen Stats gives the Steelers a 66% chance to make the postseason. This is the lowest of any AFC team that holds a playoff spot heading into Week 15.
The Steelers are far from secure. As far as Pittsburgh fans are concerned, the Steelers need to keep winning, and the Ravens must keep losing.
Here is how the AFC playoff standings look heading into Week 15. The first four seeds are the division leaders.
Rank
Team
Record
1
Denver Broncos
11-2
2
New England Patriots
11-2
3
Jacksonville Jaguars
9-4
4
Pittsburgh Steelers
7-6
5
Los Angeles Chargers
9-4
6
Buffalo Bills
9-4
7
Houston Texans
8-5
8
Indianapolis Colts
8-5
9
Baltimore Ravens
6-7
10
Kansas City Chiefs
6-7
11
Miami Dolphins
6-7
12
Cincinnati Bengals
4-9
13
New York Jets
3-10
14
Cleveland Browns
3-10
15
Las Vegas Raiders
2-11
16
Tennessee Titans
2-11
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture after Week 14 results
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AFC North standings
Team
Record
Pittsburgh Steelers
7-6
Baltimore Ravens
6-7
Cincinnati Bengals
4-9
Cleveland Browns
3-10
Without an AFC North title, Pittsburgh’s chances of making the playoffs are slim. Their 7-6 record would place them as low as No. 9 on the bubble.
Steelers remaining schedule
The Steelers have anything but an easy end to their NFL season. To start, they’ll face a Detroit Lions team just as desperate for wins as Pittsburgh is. Everyone knows what the Lions are capable of offensively, and the Steelers’ defense has struggled throughout the year.
The Pittsburgh ends the season with two AFC North opponents. It doesn’t matter what the records are; in-division matchups in the NFL are always challenging. Not to mention that even one divisional loss could be the deciding factor that ends the Steelers’ playoff hopes.
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Here is a look at Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule.
Week
Opponent
16
at Lions
17
at Browns
18
vs. Ravens