As the Steelers prepare to face their AFC North division rivals in Baltimore this week, the team’s hopes of making the postseason are still alive.
The team’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs took a blow with three straight losses to the Cardinals, Patriots, and Colts, but back-to-back wins against the Bengals and Seahawks have helped right the ship and then Steelers now have a shot of making it to the second season heading into Week 18.
There are a number of ways the Steelers can clinch a wild card spot in the playoffs and winning their game against the Ravens is the first primary step in helping make that happen.
To this point, Lamar Jackson may have locked up the MVP and put the Ravens in contention for the Super Bowl.
They’ll have a first-round bye in the playoffs and the AFC would need to go through them if they win in the Divisional Round.
If Jackson does not start, backup Tyler Huntley will take the field for the Ravens.
He went 1-1 against the Steelers last season and is 3-5 all-time, throwing for 1,811 yards and seven touchdowns to seven interceptions.
He did make the Pro Bowl last season.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said he’s focused more on schematics this week when preparing for the Ravens as they don’t know who will play quarterback.
“We prepare for what they’re capable of. We prepare for their best,” Tomlin said. “And so that makes that conversation less significant.
We better be prepared to defend the best of them or stop the best of them in a component of what they do is schematics and is not necessarily people.
And so we better be ready for the schematic component of what they do.
And so that’s not a big deal for us, to be quite honest with you.”
