Steelers Wild Card Rooting Guide: Navigating the Path to Another Home Playoff Game
The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to host their first playoff game since 2020, and their first in front of a full home crowd since 2017, on Monday night. But the Wild Card Weekend could offer another opportunity for them to do so. Here's your comprehensive guide to navigating the Steelers' playoff journey during Super Wild Card Weekend, along with the scenarios that could secure another home playoff game at Acrisure Stadium.
Sunday 1:00 PM ET: Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Root for the Buffalo Bills:
You might argue that keeping Josh Allen out of the playoff field benefits the Steelers. And the Bills' dominant win over the Steelers earlier in the season certainly supports that claim. However, this is the only path to a Steelers home game in the divisional round.
If the Bills emerge victorious, the Steelers' potential divisional round opponents would be either the Bills or the New England Patriots. Conversely, if they lose to the Jaguars, the Steelers would face either the Jaguars or the Broncos, both as the away team.
Sunday 8:15 PM ET: Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots
The outcome of this AFC showdown will significantly impact the Steelers' playoff prospects. If the Bills win in the earlier game, Steelers fans should undoubtedly root for the Chargers.
If the Chargers win after the Bills' victory, Pittsburgh would host its second playoff game of the year, with a slim chance of even hosting the AFC Championship game against the Chargers. However, if the Chargers win after the Jaguars' win, Pittsburgh would be on the road to face the Jaguars.
Conversely, if the Patriots win following a Bills' win, the Steelers would travel to face the Patriots. If both higher-seed teams win, the Steelers would be on the road to the Broncos.
In almost any scenario, it's best for the Chargers to emerge victorious in this game.
Simplified Divisional Round Scenarios:
These considerations become irrelevant if the Steelers don't win, so I'll outline the scenarios where they do:
- Steelers host Bills: Bills Win + Chargers Win
- Steelers travel to Patriots: Bills Win + Patriots Win
- Steelers travel to Broncos: Jaguars Win + Patriots Win
- Steelers travel to Jaguars: Jaguars Win + Chargers Win
The Steelers could potentially play on the road in the divisional round and then return home to host either Buffalo or Los Angeles in the AFC Championship game. While some of this guide is subjective, I'd take the Steelers' entire AFC playoff run through Pittsburgh over carefully selecting the 'right' opponents any day.
