When the Steelers played the Ravens in the 2021 regular season finale in Baltimore, it was basically a playoff game for Pittsburgh. The Steelers needed to win and get some help to earn the final playoff berth in the AFC. They won in overtime and then got the news the Jaguars upset the Colts to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
The Steelers won't be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention if they lose to the Ravens on Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium, but it sure feels like the playoffs are on the line. If they win, the path to the postseason becomes much more realistic.
The top seven teams from each conference make the playoffs, and the Steelers are currently 12th in the AFC standings. The Steelers (5-7) lose head-to-head tiebreakers to three of the teams in front of them, which is why they might have to win out to make the playoffs. Finishing 10-7 would likely get them in, while their best chance at 9-8 would be winning a multi-team tiebreaker.
