3 games to watch in Week 15 which give perspective to the 2020 Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to lock up the AFC North in Week 15. With only 3 games left, it’s time to look at both teams the Steelers still have to play as well as games affect the playoff picture. Of course, the Steelers’ game is the only one that matters this week, but there are some other games which could tell Steelers fans more about this 2020 team.

At the suggestion of one of our faithful BTSC community members, I’m going to include a brief rundown of the previous week’s three games in question to see how they helped shape the narrative of the Steelers 2020 season.

Kansas City Chiefs (33) at Miami Dolphins (27)

Although it was a one score game, Kansas City had a little more of a hold on this game at the end then the final score dictates. Miami showed that a good defense can get turnovers against this Chiefs team as they intercepted Patrick Mahomes three times. But ultimately, Miami just didn’t have the fire power to pull this one out.

Indianapolis Colts (44) at Las Vegas Raiders (27)

This game really wasn’t close at all, especially when the Colts had two rushing touchdowns as well as a defensive score late in the game. Indianapolis is still a tough team to figure out, but if they can win a game without having to rely too heavily on their quarterback, their chances for success are much better.

Baltimore Ravens (47) at Cleveland Browns (42)

As this was a standalone game on Monday night, many people tuned in to see this craziness between the Browns and Ravens. As great as the game was as it went back-and-forth and there were 20 points scored in the final two minutes, no one is really bringing up the fact both defenses allow the other team to score at will. But the NFL talking heads love their shootout, so even in a loss Cleveland is going to get all the love.

Now that we have closed the page on Week 14 of the NFL season, it’s time to get focused on the next set of games as there is little time in the NFL to dwell on the previous week. For Week 15, here are the three games which could give the most perspective on what the Steelers can expect with some of their future opponents as well as their overall layoff picture:

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

Sunday 1:00 PM on CBS

Not only do the Steelers play the Colts in Week 16, they are one of a handful of teams Pittsburgh will need to pay attention to when it comes to playoff positioning. Ultimately their game on the December 27 will mean the most, but the more separation between these two teams before that time would definitely help. What will ultimately decide how important the Steelers matchup is with the Colts is if they win the AFC South. So every loss is one step closer to the Colts merely being in the wildcard discussion.

Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints

Sunday 4:25 PM on CBS

The chances of the Steelers regaining the number one seed in the AFC are extremely slim. Even if the Chiefs were to lose to the Saints on Sunday, they would still stay ahead of the Steelers for the number one spot as their conference records would no longer be the determining factor. So before the Steelers could even dream about getting back the number one seed, the Chiefs would have to lose two of the remaining three games, or simply have one loss in Week 17 to the Chargers. Regardless, checking out the competition for the postseason is never a bad thing.

Cleveland Browns at New York Giants

Sunday at 8:20 PM on NBC

Once again, the Steelers could lock up the AFC North this week before they even take the field on Monday night if the Browns were to fall to the New York Giants. It’s not that I’m counting on it, but it is a possibility. For now, tracking how the Browns are playing is important if there is still meaning when these teams play in Week 17. My hope is the Steelers clinch the AFC North and can focus more on their preparation for the postseason rather than having to win a Week 17 game in Cleveland.

So there are the three main matchups which may give Steelers fans an indication as to the quality of upcoming opponents in 2020 or how they shape the playoff picture. As teams are now in the home stretch, it is becoming more about where teams stand when it comes to the postseason and how it relates to to Steelers than anything else.

So which of these games will be the most telling as it pertains to the future of the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers? Make sure you vote in the poll and give your thoughts in the comments below.