After three consecutive wins over the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions, the Pittsburgh Steelers entered Week 17 sitting in pole position in the AFC North. However, a shocking loss to the Cleveland Browns threw a wrench into Pittsburgh’s plans to clinch the division crown.
Heading into Week 18, the Steelers faced a winner-take-all showdown against their heated rivals on Sunday night.
Steelers’ Playoff Outlook After Week 18
It has been a down year for the AFC North, which has traditionally been one of the best divisions in the NFL. However, division winners get automatic playoff bids, so all eyes were on the Steelers-Ravens matchup on Sunday night.
The Steelers came away with a close win, clinching the division and securing a playoff spot. After the victory in Week 18, they enter the playoffs as the fourth seed in the AFC. The Steelers will now host the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round as the AFC South franchise finished the season as the fifth seed in the conference.
Mike Tomlin, Aaron Rodgers, and the 10-7 Steelers sealed Pittsburgh’s first division crown since 2020-21. A win over Cleveland in Week 17 would’ve wrapped up the division for the Steelers, but they defeated the Ravens to accomplish that goal.
The most heart-wrenching game I can remember in a long time.
The #Steelers are AFC North champs. Wow. pic.twitter.com/S1NDSoKaK1
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 5, 2026
The Steelers’ 2025-26 campaign has produced mixed results. Entering this past offseason, addressing the quarterback position was the top priority. At 42, Rodgers has not been elite. His 69.9 PFSN QB Impact grade entering Week 18 ranks 31st of 48 qualified NFL quarterbacks. However, his veteran presence has kept Pittsburgh competitive.
The franchise has never finished with a record below .500 in 19 seasons under Tomlin, but it hasn’t reached the Super Bowl since 2010. The fan base was growing restless, and some believed that the longtime head coach was coaching for his job on Sunday night.
The Super Bowl drought and the overall lack of recent postseason success raise questions, but if Pittsburgh reaches the postseason, anything’s possible in a wide-open AFC.
MORE: NFL Wild Card Schedule Revealed: Playoff Times, Matchups, and More
Coming into Week 18, according to the PFSN NFL Playoff Predictor, the Steelers had a 52.6% chance of winning the AFC North and making the playoffs, while the Ravens had a 47.4% chance. The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns were already eliminated from playoff contention.
For Pittsburgh, the path to the playoffs was straightforward: win against the Ravens, which they successfully did.
Pittsburgh was without star wide receiver DK Metcalf, who was suspended for the remainder of the regular season after an altercation with a Lions fan during the team’s Week 16 victory.
Steelers’ Potential Playoff Opponents
The Steelers are locked in to face the Texans at home in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
According to PFSN analytics, these were the most likely Wild Card Round matchups for the Steelers in the playoffs entering Week 18:
- Texans at Steelers: 30.4%
- Bills at Steelers: 16.3%
- Chargers at Steelers: 3.5%
Pittsburgh had already faced two of the three above teams in the regular season. In Week 10, the Steelers lost on the road to the Los Angeles Chargers 25-10. They hosted the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 but lost 26-7, producing just 166 yards of total offense. Double-digit losses to each opponent do little to inspire confidence that Pittsburgh can beat them in the postseason if they face them in the Divisional Round.
The Steelers have not played the Texans this season. However, Houston is one of the hottest squads in the NFL and one that no one wants to play heading into the playoffs. DeMeco Ryans and company have rattled off eight straight wins, including victories over the Jaguars, Bills, Colts, Chiefs, and Chargers. The Texans boast an elite defense that ranks No. 1 in PFSN’s Defense Impact metric.
