The Steelers’ playoff chances are much slimmer after their second straight loss, as they fell to the Jets yesterday, 16-10. Duck Hodges threw two interceptions and was benched, then after Mason Rudolph threw for 129 yards and a touchdown, he was hurt in the third quarter, leading to the return of the ineffective Hodges.
Coach Mike Tomlin says if you’re looking to blame someone for yesterday’s performance, there’s a lot of it to pass around.
Tomlin says he doesn’t deal with the term “frustration”.
Quarterback Duck Hodges says he has to play better than he has the last two weeks.
Center Maurkice Pouncy left the game yesterday with a knee injury. James Connor left with a quad injury, and Mason Rudolph suffered his left shoulder injury on the play after Pouncy was injured. Former Broncos top draft choice Paxton Lynch would be the Steelers’ next quarterback after Rudolph and Hodges.
Defensive end Cam Heyward says the Steelers are aware that they have to win against the Ravens on Sunday and hope for a Titans loss.
The Steelers are 8-and-7 and while there is a tiny chance they can make the playoffs next week if they lose, their best path to the second Wild Card spot is to beat the Ravens and hope the Texans can knock off Tennessee.
As it stands now, the Ravens, Patriots, Chiefs, and Texans are the top four AFC seeds as Division winners, with the Bills in the first Wild Card position and the Titans in the second. The Steelers are one spot out, with the Raiders and Browns still alive.
In the NFC, the current standings headed into the final week of the season have the 49ers in the top spot, followed by the Saints, Packers, and the Eagles (who are only 8-7 but still would be a higher seed than Seattle because Philly leads their division). The 11-4 Seahawks are the fifth seed and the Vikings are sixth, with the Cowboys the only other team in the conference with a shot at the playoffs. They could still beat out the Eagles in the Eastern Division.
