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Who will Steelers play in NFL playoffs? Scenarios, potential wild card matchups

nick brinkerhoff, usa today
·3 min read

Pittsburgh is hoping to get their playoff mojo back in 2025.

The Steelers are back in the playoffs, looking to capitalize on a fairly surprising season for Mike Tomlin's team. They head into the final week of the regular season with just a question mark next to the NFL playoff seating chart.

Tomlin's group can slot in as the No. 3, 5, or 6 seed when the dust settles, setting up some uncertainty regarding their first-round opponents heading into Week 18.

Here's a look at who could be on Pittsburgh's schedule to open the playoffs.

Who will the Steelers play in playoffs?

The Steelers will slot in as division winners or a wild card team in the postseason. Here is who they could match up against:

Steelers playoff scenarios

Here are the scenarios that would lead to each first-round matchup:

Houston Texans

The likeliest outcome is for the Steelers to head to Houston. Here's how they might end up in the Lone Star State.

  • Ravens win (vs. CLE) and Steelers win (vs. CIN) OR Chargers loss (at LV)

  • BAL, PIT and LAC lose

Baltimore Ravens

If the Ravens win, the Steelers could opt to rest some players since they play after Baltimore and will know whether the AFC North is clinched. The following scenario would mean the hated rivals get a third meeting this season and a second in Baltimore:

  • Steelers loss (vs. CIN) AND Chargers win (at LV)

Los Angeles Chargers

The least likely outcome of the three is that Pittsburgh will meet L.A. in the first round if they win the division. That would require a Baltimore loss to Cleveland and a Pittsburgh win in Week 18.

NFL PLAYOFFS: Odds for five teams contending in Week 18: Chances for Broncos, Bengals, more

NFL playoff schedule

The NFL playoffs kick off on Jan. 11 with the league's Super Wild Card Weekend before concluding on Feb. 9 with Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.

Super Wild Card weekend

All times Eastern

Saturday, Jan. 11

  • AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.

  • AFC/NFC wild card game: 8 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 12

  • AFC/NFC wild card game: 1 p.m.

  • AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.

  • AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 13

  • AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.

Divisional round

Saturday, Jan. 18

  • AFC/NFC divisional game: 4:30 p.m.

  • AFC/NFC division game: 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 19

  • AFC/NFC divisional game: 3 p.m.

  • AFC/NFC divisional game: 6:30 p.m.

NFL conference championship round

Sunday, Jan. 26

  • NFC championship game: 3 p.m.

  • AFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.

Super Bowl 59

  • Date: Feb. 9, 2025

  • Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)

  • Time: 6:30 p.m.

  • TV: FOX

NFL playoff picture Week 18

AFC

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners, No. 1 seed)*

  2. Buffalo Bills (13-3, AFC East winners)*

  3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders)*

  4. Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners)*

  5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)*

  6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, wild card No. 2)*

  7. Denver Broncos (9-7, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Miami Dolphins (8-8), Cincinnati Bengals (8-8).

NFC

  1. Detroit Lions (14-2, NFC North leaders)*

  2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, NFC East winners)*

  3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West winners)*

  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7, NFC South leaders)

  5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2, wild card No. 1)*

  6. Washington Commanders (11-5, wild card No. 2)*

  7. Green Bay Packers (11-5, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Atlanta Falcons (8-8)

An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who will Steelers play in playoffs? Breaking down wild card scenarios