Even after beating the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night to capture a playoff berth and AFC North crown, few in the national media believe in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now that the bracket is set, a handful of outlets are looking past Wild Card weekend and mapping out the postseason. Virtually every one is predicting a quick Pittsburgh exit.<\/p>\n
Staff at The Ringer posted their individual playoff scenarios. Ten different authors offered their prediction.<\/a> All 10 have the Houston Texans beating the Steelers Monday night.<\/p>\n Some of that is pure Texans\u2019 love. Four writers have Houston making it to the AFC Championship Game, no small feat for a No. 5 seed on the road, with three picking the Texans to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Perhaps it isn\u2019t all Steelers doubt. Austin Gayle thinks Mike Tomlin\u2019s magic could continue.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd can you really count out Mike Tomlin\u2019s Steelers with all of the voodoo magic that has gotten them to this point?\u201d he wrote. \u201cDefinitely not, especially against a Texans offense that hasn\u2019t been able to iron out its kinks all season.\u201d<\/p>\n Alas, Gayle still picked Houston to win.<\/p>\n As are the writers over at Yahoo. Their staff made the same playoff bracket predictions, each assigning Pittsburgh the same fate. All eight giving the nod<\/a> to the Texans over the Steelers. That includes Charles McDonald, who quipped in a separate article<\/a> Houston is \u201claughing\u201d at Pittsburgh\u2019s offense.<\/p>\n