Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s simple: the Steelers need to beat the resting Ravens in Baltimore and have the Texans beat the Titans. I can make it more complicated if you wish because the Steelers still get the sixth seed if they lose, the Titans lose, the Raiders lose, and the Colts beat the Jaguars. If the Jaguars beat the colts — and all those losses happen — the Titans will actually go to the playoffs. This sixth seed is tough to figure out.

If the Steelers can’t beat the Ravens backups, they probably don’t deserve to make the playoffs anyway. The Duck Hodges honeymoon is over, but the Steelers have no other option at quarterback since Mason Rudolph is out for the season. That’s why we probably don’t want to see Pittsburgh in the playoffs. They will lose their first-round game with their limited offense unless the defense can make the game extremely ugly.

That defense is something though. Minkah Fitzpatrick forcing turnovers every game has slowed down a bit, but he’s changed the entire Steelers defense. T.J. Watt should either finish as Defensive Player of the Year or come very close to the top of that award’s list. It would be tough to upset the Chiefs, but maybe the Steelers could scare the Patriots or Texans. Still, the best option for the sixth seed is the most obvious.