PITTSBURGH — On the final day of this bizarro season, the Steelers needed a trifecta of results. They handled the Browns, 28-14. The Bills blasted the Patriots. But the Dolphins inched past the Jets, 9-6, on a 50-yard field goal with 18 seconds remaining, dashing the Steelers’ long-shot playoff hopes.
In the third year of seven NFL playoff teams, the Steelers (9-8) nearly grabbed that No. 7 seed for the second year in a row. Instead, they had to settle for clinching a 19th consecutive non-losing season for the franchise, including all 16 under coach Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers did it Sunday via their usual formula, with a little bit more offensive pizzazz sprinkled into it. Two offensive touchdowns for the first time in three weeks, five plays of 20-plus yards and a reliable Chris Boswell helped offset a miserable start at Acrisure Stadium.
