NFL
Pittsburgh’s Playoff Chances Continue to Dwindle
The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Oakland Raiders in the Black Hole, 24-21. With their loss to the Raiders, the Steelers continue to fall backward in the playoff hunt. Pittsburgh has now lost their last three games and still have to play perhaps their two toughest opponents this season in the coming weeks.
While they are still a potent team with loads of talent, key injuries and poor decision making may send them home early. The Steelers still hold a half-game lead for the AFC North, but Baltimore is on the rise with a much easier schedule. Add in an AFC Wild Card picture filled with teams at 7-6, and you have a recipe for disaster in Pittsburgh.
AFC Playoff Teams Remaining Schedule
Pittsburgh Steelers: Patriots, Saints, Bengals – 25-14 combined record, .641 average winning percentage
Baltimore Ravens: Buccaneers, Chargers, Browns – 20-18-1 combined total record, .513 average winning percentage
Indianapolis Colts: Cowboys, Giants, Titans – 20-19 combined total record, .513 average winning percentage
Miami Dolphins: Vikings, Jaguars, Bills – 14-23-1 combined total record, .368 average winning percentage
Tennessee Titans: Giants, Redskins, Colts – 18-21 combined total record, .462 average winning percentage
While looking at every playoff contender in the AFC, Pittsburgh has the toughest schedule remaining by far. The Steelers schedule is .128 percentage points tougher than the next closest team.
If the Steelers are going to make the playoffs, they will have to beat the Bengals and one of the Patriots or the Saints. Seeing as this team has lost three in a row and two of those games have been to sub .500 teams it is hard to see this happening.
What Has Derailed the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Lack of a Ground Game
A common theme throughout this losing streak for Pittsburgh is the lack of production from the running back position on the ground. During the Steelers’ six-game winning streak, James Conner averaged 18.3 carries, 94 rushing yards, and 1.17 rushing touchdowns.
During the three-game losing streak, Conner has played in two games and averaged 14 attempts, 56.5 rushing yards, and one touchdown. The third game Pittsburgh running back’s went for 16 rushes 32 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Although the total attempts for running backs haven’t gone down too much, their productivity has cliff dived. Pittsburgh has to get their ground game going, or they will certainly fall to the Patriots and Saints.
Steelers’ Kicking Woes
Last year, Steelers’ kicker, Chris Boswell was near automatic. He hit 35 of his 38 field goal attempts and 37 of his 39 extra point attempts. This season could not be more different. Boswell has only made 10 out of his 16 field goals and 39 of his 44 extra point attempts.
Boswell has doubled his total misses from last season, going from completing 92% of field goals to just 62%. In games that Boswell has missed a field goal this season, Pittsburgh has a 1-3-1 record. One of the Steelers losses along with their tie would be wins had Boswell made his kicks.
In possibly Boswell’s last game for Pittsburgh, he missed two field goals in a 24-21 loss in Oakland.
The Road to the Playoffs
Pittsburgh still controls their own destiny, and if they can turn this around, they could make a Super Bowl run. If the Steelers beat either the Patriots or the Saints, then that takes care of business. Their record should win them the division, and get them in as the fourth seed.
However, losing two of the final three games would almost certainly give the Ravens the AFC North. It appears the only way Pittsburgh makes it into the playoffs is by winning the division and that is looking less probable by the week.
If Pittsburgh does lose these next two weeks, one thing Steelers fans can be happy about is their draft position. Finishing the year at 8-7-1 would get them close to a top 15 pick something they have not had since drafting Ryan Shazier in 2014.
Photo Credit
Featured Image courtesy of Highlight Store
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