Steelers Fans Rejoice as Spot in 2024 NFL Playoff Picture Gets Boost with Week 18 Win

With the season on the line, the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a victory over the Baltimore Ravens in order to give it the best chance at making the postseason.

It was ugly but Pittsburgh got the job done.

The Ravens, who entered the game locked-in as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, did not have quarterback Lamar Jackson on the field. Still, Pittsburgh relied on Mason Rudolph as the signal-caller and lost star linebacker T.J. Watt in the second half to a knee injury.

Rudolph was very efficient in the game, going 18-of-20 for 152 yards and a touchdown. Still, a majority of those yards came on one explosive play that saw Dionte Johnson go for 71 yards and a huge touchdown.

Najee Harris was the top rusher for Pittsburgh, having 26 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown. Johnson finished with four catches for 89 yards and that massive touchdown, while the Steelers defense limited Baltimore to just 224 yards of offense and sacked Tyler Huntley four times.

Fans on social media praised the Steelers resiliency and head coach Mike Tomlin’s ability to consistently produce teams with winning records.

The Steelers still need some help in order to clinch a playoff spot. A tie between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts Saturday night would get Pittsburgh there, as would a loss by the Buffalo Bills and a loss or tie by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If the Steelers were to fall short of the postseason, it would be the first time a 10-win team had missed the playoffs since the playoff field expanded to seven teams per conference in the 2021 season.