Steelers’ playoff hopes take a success, however all hope is just not misplaced

CHICAGO — Within the aftermath of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 31-28 loss to the Chicago Bears, Jalen Ramsey reluctantly fielded questions for 1 minute and 13 seconds on his approach out of the guests locker room at Soldier Discipline.

The Steelers’ security used simply 20 phrases to reply the primary seven questions. However on the eighth and ultimate inquiry, Ramsey did not want a verbal response — at the very least not an audible one — to convey his ideas.

Requested if it felt just like the season was slipping away, Ramsey let loose an exasperated, rueful snigger, shook his head and walked away, muttering beneath his breath.

Because the Steelers dropped to 6-5 on the identical day their AFC North rival — the Baltimore Ravens — improved to 6-5 with a win in opposition to the New York Jets, the query is greater than warranted. And so is Ramsey’s frustration.

As soon as holding a 2½-game lead within the division, the Steelers have squandered their benefit forward of a season-ending gauntlet that options three divisional video games — together with two in opposition to the Ravens in Weeks 14 and 18 that might resolve the division.

“The hourglass goes and the sand’s falling via,” Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward stated. “There’s not loads of time for errors.”

With a 4-1 file via the primary six weeks of the season as their division opponents roiled in accidents and turmoil, the Steelers entered their Thursday night time sport in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7 with a 2½-game lead on their hosts and a 3½-game lead on the Ravens.

“It sucks,” Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen stated of Pittsburgh squandering its division lead. “Undoubtedly sucks. However on the finish of the yr, there’s going to be loads of implications. Extra intense soccer, so cannot wait.”

Starting with the Week 7 loss at Cincinnati, the Steelers have dropped 4 of their previous six video games, due to inconsistency in all three phases. Earlier than dropping to Cincinnati in Week 7, the Steelers’ odds to make the playoffs reached 84.7%. After Sunday’s loss at Chicago, their odds are hovering at 50%, per ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index.

The Steelers cooked up recipes to beat the Indianapolis Colts and win a rematch in opposition to Cincinnati, however Pittsburgh fell brief in opposition to the Packers, Chargers and Bears because the protection surged after which faltered, affected by recurring protection busts and ill-matched schemes.

“Simply understanding what’s coming and us not doing nothing about it,” Queen stated when requested what was most irritating concerning the crew’s present state of affairs. “You hear guys speaking all around the subject, speaking what’s coming, and the play nonetheless occurs. So, it’s robust. It is upsetting, clearly, however I do know the fellows on this room, each single particular person on this room cares.”

In the meantime, the offense, as soon as the Steelers’ shiny spot because the protection foundered, slumped as 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers started to battle after which suffered a fractured left wrist. And although backup quarterback Mason Rudolph had moments of proficiency, his turnovers Sunday proved pricey. The playcalling additionally struggled to discover a constant rhythm within the run sport in these losses. The Steelers racked up 125 speeding yards within the first half in opposition to the Bears, however managed simply 61 within the second half.

“We have been trusting our path, trusting the O-line,” stated Kenneth Gainwell, who led all operating backs Sunday with 92 yards on 10 carries, together with a 55-yard speeding landing. “And I feel within the second half, we simply needed to proceed to simply press extra and do what we needed to do.”

The Steelers have authored late-season surges to make the playoffs all through coach Mike Tomlin’s profession, particularly lately. Rudolph’s three-game win streak on the finish of the 2023 season led Pittsburgh to an unbelievable playoff berth. In 2021, the Steelers clinched a berth with a Week 18 win in opposition to the Ravens and a Sunday night time win by the Raiders over the Chargers.

However all that historical past would not make their present positioning any much less irritating or deflating. Coming into the season because the league’s highest-paid protection, one billed as able to doing “historic issues” by Tomlin and an offense led by a four-time MVP winner whom the crew publicly courted for months, the Steelers had aspirations of not simply making the playoffs, however making a postseason run.

Because the crew continues to trip the identical rollercoaster it decried after every sport, the objectives of the 2025 season seemingly slip additional away.

Rudolph has loads of expertise with the ever-changing odds of the Steelers’ playoff hopes, and he has crushed them earlier than. That provides him a singular perspective, whilst the remainder of the crew was dejected after the loss in Chicago.

“There’s by no means been panic right here,” Rudolph stated. “I have been a Pittsburgh Steeler lengthy sufficient to know we have been down within the division and up, and it is a pure ebb and circulation of the season. I am very assured in our guys to maintain preventing and find yourself on high.”

So what mindset do the Steelers want for the ultimate month-and-a-half?

Ramsey discovered a phrase to reply that query.

“Win.”