The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team currently living on the fringe of the AFC Playoff Picture. As of right now, they do not find themselves in the Top 7 who have secured a spot in the playoffs, but it doesn’t mean all hope is lost. After their win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 the Steelers path to the playoffs cleared up, slightly, after some shocking results Sunday.

The Indianapolis Colts lost to the Atlanta Falcons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans got beat soundly by the Cleveland Browns. All of these games impacted the Steelers’ playoff hopes, but what do they need to happen to get in?

Let’s talk about the easiest path to the playoffs. It all starts with winning their final two games (at Seattle, at Baltimore), not an easy task. Steelers.com’s Dale Lolley outlines the easiest path to the playoffs:

So, with today's events, the Steelers need to win their final two games — a tall task — and two of the three AFC South teams (Indy, Houston, Jacksonville) lose once in the final two weeks. And Houston finishes the season at Indy. So, really, the Steelers just need a Jax loss.

— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) December 25, 2023

Okay, it now seems logical to take a look at the upcoming slate of games in Week 17 to see what could happen.

Week 17 Games

• Steelers at Seahawks
• Titans at Texans
• Raiders at Colts
• Panthers at Jaguars

Other games of note:

• Bengals at Chiefs
• Patriots at Bills
• Jets at Browns (TNF)

So, what do you think will happen? Do the Steelers have more than just a chance? Let us know what you think in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17.