DETROIT — Thanks to a controversial and favorable conclusion Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will take a 9-6 record and three-game winning streak into Christmas.
Their 29-24 victory against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field was filled with drama, and it moved the Steelers closer to securing their first AFC North title since 2020.
The Steelers can clinch the AFC North title and a playoff berth if Baltimore loses to Green Bay on Saturday or with a win over Cleveland next Sunday.
Entering the game in Detroit, the Steelers had a 63% chance of reaching the postseason, according to the New York Times’ playoff simulator. The win, which came when a last-second touchdown by the Lions was denied because of offensive pass interference, increased the Steelers’ chance of making the playoffs to 77%. After Baltimore’s loss to New England, the Steelers’ odds jumped to 91%.
“It’s why I love it,” coach Mike Tomlin said of the wild finish. “If you’re a competitor, man, you run to this stuff. And I think we have a collection of competitors.”
The Steelers have beaten the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins and Lions in succession. The three-game winning streak is the second this season for the Steelers. They were 4-1 in October before losing five of their next seven games to fall to .500.
The Steelers, though, could be without top wide receiver DK Metcalf for the stretch run. Video showed Metcalf shoving a Lions fan during the first half, and he could be disciplined by the NFL, which is investigating the incident.
The Steelers returned home late Sunday night as New England was defeating Baltimore, 28-24. The loss dropped Baltimore 7-8, and New England improved to 12-3. The Steelers defeated the Ravens on Dec. 7 to kick off their three-game streak.
The Steelers and Ravens meet again in the season finale in January at Acrisure Stadium.
”It’s been playoff-type football the last three weeks,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “We had to win to take the lead in the division, we had to win to shut down a team that had won four in a row and was hot — shut down their playoff hopes. We had to win against a team with a lot of pride and has played in an NFC championship game the last couple years. It says a lot about our leadership.”
In Week 17, the Steelers play at Cleveland at 1 p.m. Sunday. They will have a better idea of their playoff fate on Saturday night after Baltimore plays at the Green Bay Packers.
The top seven teams from each conference make the postseason.
Entering Week 16, Denver was the only team in the AFC to have clinched a playoff berth. New England became the second participant with its victory at Baltimore.
