The Pittsburgh Steelers ended their 2024 regular season with a 19-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, marking their fourth consecutive defeat. Despite this poor streak, the Steelers remain in playoff contention and will finish as either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the AFC, depending on the outcome of Sunday’s games.
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Steelers are only the third team in NFL history to make the playoffs following a four-game losing streak. The last team to do so was the 1999 Detroit Lions, who lost their final four games that season, dropping from 8-4 to 8-8. Despite sneaking into the playoffs, the Lions lost their wild-card game to Washington, 27-13.
The Steelers will hope for a better outcome this time, though their recent form has left little optimism. Their offense has struggled significantly during the four-game skid, though the defense showed some improvement in Week 18.
Heading into Sunday, Pittsburgh has two potential playoff scenarios. If the Los Angeles Chargers lose to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Steelers will secure the No. 5 seed and face the Houston Texans. However, if the Chargers win, the Steelers will face the Baltimore Ravens in the first round.
A matchup with the Texans would likely be more favorable for head coach Mike Tomlin’s squad, as Houston has been inconsistent this season and has struggled recently. Nevertheless, the Steelers will face a tough challenge regardless of the opponent.
In contrast, the Detroit Lions find themselves in a much stronger position. As one of the top teams in the NFL this year, they are focused on securing a Super Bowl berth. But first, they must handle business in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings.
This crucial matchup at Ford Field will determine the NFC North champion and, more importantly, the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The No. 1 seed guarantees a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Detroit and Minnesota will face off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday night, with the game airing on NBC.
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Recent developments may clarify Lions’ unexpected release of linebacker David Long and hint at a potential return
The Detroit Lions made a surprising move on Christmas Eve by waiving linebacker David Long, creating an open spot on their 53-man roster. The decision was unexpected, as Long had been playing well in Detroit.
After a solid performance against the Bills, Long was unexpectedly relegated to special teams duty in the game against the Bears and was waived just days later. The Tennessee Titans claimed him off the waiver wire on Christmas Day, but Long will not be joining the team due to failing his physical.
It appears Long may be dealing with an injury that impacted his performance, though different team doctors have varying standards, and it’s possible Long simply didn’t meet Tennessee’s criteria.
There’s a chance Long was considered healthy by the Lions when they waived him, which could open the door for his return to Detroit. With Long now a free agent, there’s speculation that the Lions might offer him a spot on their practice squad, as he is free to sign with any team.
