Steelers playoff picture: Updated chances for Pittsburgh to make 2025 NFL postseason after Week 15 win over Dolphins originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The expectations coming into this season for the Pittsburgh Steelers were certainly capped. With head coach Mike Tomlin not having much recent success and the addition of Aaron Rodgers, no one took the Steelers too seriously.
Now here they are heading into Week 16, strongly contending for a playoff spot. It also helps that the AFC North has been a disaster for most of the season. The Cincinnati Bengals’ season practically ended in Week 2 when quarterback Joe Burrow went down. The Baltimore Ravens have been shockingly bad with or without Lamar Jackson, and the Cleveland Browns — well, they’re the Cleveland Browns.
You can’t criticize the Steelers for taking care of business; they just went into Baltimore and stole a win from the Ravens. Then, on Monday Night Football, the Steelers host the red-hot Miami Dolphins and came out with a statement 28-15 victory.
Here’s more on the Steelers’ 2025-26 postseason chances after beating the Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
MORE: Full updated AFC, NFC playoff pictures
Steelers playoff picture
After beating the Dolphins on Monday Night Football in Week 15, the Steelers held onto the No. 4 seed in the AFC. They lead the AFC North, continuing to fend of the Ravens.
After beating Baltimore in Week 14, the Steelers secured the top spot in the division, and they control their own destiny with a one-game lead over the Ravens following Week 15 games. After beating Miami on Monday night, The Athletic’s playoff outcome predictor gives Pittsburgh a 66% chance of making the playoffs, with almost the entirety of those odds being to do so as a division winner.
The Steelers are still far from secure, despite their strong Week 15 win. As far as Pittsburgh fans are concerned, the Steelers need to keep winning, and the Ravens must keep losing.
Here is how the AFC playoff standings look heading into Week 16. The first four seeds are the division leaders.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Denver Broncos | 12-2 |
| 2 | New England Patriots | 11-3 |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 10-4 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-6 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Chargers | 10-4 |
| 6 | Buffalo Bills | 10-4 |
| 7 | Houston Texans | 9-5 |
| 8 | Indianapolis Colts | 8-6 |
| 9 | Baltimore Ravens | 7-7 |
| 10 | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-8 |
| 11 | Miami Dolphins | 6-8 |
| 12 | Cincinnati Bengals | 4-10 |
| 13 | New York Jets | 3-11 |
| 14 | Cleveland Browns | 3-11 |
| 15 | Las Vegas Raiders | 2-12 |
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | 2-12 |
POWER RANKINGS:Rams edge Broncos for No. 1; 49ers rise as Packers fade for Week 16
AFC North standings
| Team | Record |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-6 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 7-7 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 4-10 |
| Cleveland Browns | 3-11 |
Without an AFC North title, Pittsburgh’s chances of making the playoffs are slim. Their 8-6 record would place them as low as No. 9 on the bubble of the wild-card picture, but the Steelers are holding onto their division lead heading into Week 16.
Steelers remaining schedule
The Steelers have anything but an easy end to their NFL season. To start, they’ll face a Detroit Lions team just as desperate for wins as Pittsburgh is. Everyone knows what the Lions are capable of offensively, and the Steelers’ defense has struggled throughout the year.
The Pittsburgh ends the season with two AFC North opponents. It doesn’t matter what the records are; in-division matchups in the NFL are always challenging. Not to mention that the final matchup, a Week 18 game against the Ravens, could wind up being a win-and-in scenario for both squads, depending on how things shake out.
Here is a look at Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule.
| Week | Opponent |
| 16 | at Lions |
| 17 | at Browns |
| 18 | vs. Ravens |
