With the Pittsburgh Steelers' season heading into its final stretch, the AFC playoff picture is exceptionally tight, with 11 teams boasting at least seven wins and vying for postseason berths. The Steelers are among those hopeful of securing one of the coveted playoff spots, but suffered another major setback after a disheartening loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.
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Steelers wide receiver George Pickens tried to avoid an Indianapolis Colts defender after making a catch in their Week 15 2023 regular season matchup.
During their 30-13 loss to the Colts on Saturday, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky's struggles, marked by two interceptions, highlighted the team's challenges. At 7-7, Pittsburgh now finds itself in last place in the AFC North and facing an almighty battle to get back into playoff contention. The Baltimore Ravens are the only side that has already punched their ticket to the postseason after 15 weeks in the AFC, and bookmakers are divided over the odds for the remaining teams that are in contention. You can keep up to date with a full comparison of NFL and American football betting sites and updated odds provided by Cheeky as the season edges closer to its climax. Cheeky Punter also provides a host of useful information and expert predictions, while new users can look forward to exclusive promotions to some of the world’s biggest bookmakers.
The AFC playoff race is a minefield at the moment, with teams scrambling for position. While the Miami Dolphins also seem poised for a playoff berth in the AFC, the competition becomes fierce in the mid-tier standings, where the Cincinnati Bengals' recent comeback victory has shot them into playoff contention, thus leaving the Steelers on the outside looking in. Pittsburgh’s loss to the Colts saw their playoff chances plummet from 58% before Week 15 to less than a 10% probability after Saturday night.
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Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning has stepped in for an injured Joe Burrow.
Heading into Week 13, the Steelers looked set for success with a 7-4 record. However, consecutive losses to the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, and Colts have slashed their expectation and has exposed their vulnerabilities on both offense and defense. The absence of quarterback Kenny Pickett, who is sidelined with a high-ankle sprain for up to three weeks, adds to the team's woes and has shone the spotlight firmly on backup QB Mitch Trubisky's struggles. The Steelers now find themselves in a downward spiral, having lost three of their last four games since Pickett’s injury. In addition, the Steelers have to navigate a difficult path to the playoffs from here, currently with the eighth-toughest schedule, including crucial matchups against Wild Card contenders like the Bengals on the horizon.
However, despite the challenges, the Steelers currently hold tiebreakers that will favor their playoff spot pursuit, with head-to-head wins against the Bengals and a better conference record providing a glimmer of hope. However, losses to fellow Wild Card contenders like the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, and Colts complicate their path, making a Wild Card berth their most viable route to the playoffs. Safe to say, Pittsburgh is at a crucial juncture where each game needs to be considered as a must-win scenario, and a defeat against the Bengals in Week 16 would almost certainly spell doom for their playoff aspirations, especially considering the looming challenge of two tough road games still ahead on the schedule.
