The Pittsburgh Steelers have four games remaining in the 2023 NFL season. At 7-6, they still very much control their own destiny in terms of making the playoffs. The task however, is a tall one. With road games in Indianapolis, Seattle and Baltimore and one home contest against Cincinnati, the Steelers will need to find ways to win in games in which they will likely be underdogs.
It’s highly likely that Pittsburgh will need to win at least three of these four games. Based on their play the last two weeks against much lesser competition, the chances of that seem slim. What will it take to make the playoffs? What has to happen for them to come up empty? I’m taking a look.
How They Get Into the Playoffs
Above all else, this team needs to become unified. That’s not an easy thing to do this late in the season either. There is division. There is disappointment and there is no doubt anger as some players question others. The players don’t have to like each other but they must work together.
In terms of on the field, the offensive and defensive lines must dictate play. With such questionable quarterback play, the offensive line will need to protect better and they’ll need to be dominant in the running game. Defensively, Keeanu Benton may be the best player on the D-Line right now and he’ll have to have help from Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi. For his part, Ogunjobi needs to make plays. He’s been largely absent in recent weeks.
Mitchell Trubisky (for as long as he’s replacing Kenny Pickett for whom these same goals apply) will have to take care of the ball first and foremost. This team cannot afford drives that end in turnovers by the signal-caller. Trubisky will be under pressure to get the ball to George Pickens who has been justly frustrated but he can’t just chuck it into triple coverage either.
The defense will have to play well. This goes without saying but they need to get back to the earlier point in the season when they were creating turnovers. T.J. Watt will have to go from being Batman to Superman and he’ll need help too.
If the offense can run the ball, stay in short yardage situations and score touchdowns in the red zone they’ve got a shot but this also means the defense plays well too.
How They Don’t Make the Playoffs
It’s actually quite simple. If the Steelers stay on the same path they are now then this will be over by Christmas. The infighting, the poor coaching and poor execution will drive the team right into the offseason.
We’re going to find out just how serious this team is Saturday in Indy.
