Pittsburgh (AP) — Despite being deemed unsalvageable in the middle of December, the Pittsburgh Steelers are returning to the postseason.
Tennessee’s victory against Jacksonville on Sunday secured Pittsburgh’s wild-card status. The Steelers (10-7) had lost three straight games, including to New England and lowly Arizona, and it seemed impossible that they would make the playoffs.
After being blasted out against Indianapolis on December 16, coach Mike Tomlin benched third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph, and on Saturday, Rudolph helped Pittsburgh win three straight games over Cincinnati, Seattle, and AFC North champion Baltimore.
The outcome of Buffalo’s game against Miami on Sunday night will determine the Steelers’ AFC seed, which could be as high as sixth or seventh. Pittsburgh would travel to Kansas City the next weekend if the Dolphins won, and a The Steelers would visit Buffalo if the Bills won. The Steelers will visit the Dolphins if Miami and Buffalo are tied.
Since defeating Kansas City in the divisional round of the 2016 playoffs, Pittsburgh has not won a postseason game. With decisive losses to New England in the 2016 AFC Championship, Jacksonville in the 2017 division round, Cleveland in the 2020 first round, and Kansas City in the 2021 first round, the Steelers have now dropped their previous four postseason games.With great outside linebacker T.J. Watt out of the picture, Pittsburgh will have to move on. The two-time All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year contender missed the game against Baltimore due to a knee injury that is predicted to keep him out of action for an extended period of time.
The retired brother of T.J. Watt, J.J. Watt, stated on social media that the premier pass-rusher for the Steelers, Antonio Brown, has a Grade 2 MCL strain and that he will likely require a “couple weeks of rest/recovery.”
The season for the Steelers has been unpredictable; they started the season 6-3 despite being outgained in every game. After that, they lost four out of five, including a defeat to Cleveland on November 19 that resulted in the removal of offensive coordinator Matt Canada two days later due to controversy.
In a victory over Cincinnati on December 3, the offense briefly found its footing, but in the second quarter, starting quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a right ankle injury against Arizona. After taking over, Mitch Trubisky was mainly ineffectual as the Steelers lost to the Patriots, Cardinals, and Colts, eliminating them from the playoff picture.
Seeking a spark, Tomlin turned to Rudolph, one of the team’s longest-tenured players who had been hidden on the bench for more than two years. He gave the Steelers one that helped them make it back to the postseason.
Without throwing an interception, Rudolph has completed 719 yards and three touchdown passes. On Saturday in Baltimore, Pickett, who has fully healed from ankle surgery, will be Rudolph’s backup quarterback. Although Tomlin stated last week that he would hold off on making a decision regarding who would receive the ball if Pittsburgh’s season continued past Week 18, it is quite likely that Rudolph will play against the Bills or Dolphins to continue his remarkable comeback.
