NFL Power Rankings, Postseason: Despite loss, Steelers remain a top team heading into the playoffs

The Pittsburgh Steelers, along with the rest of the NFL, are coming off the 17th, and final, week of a journey which has never been done in the history of the game. Playing games amidst a global pandemic.

The league has done tremendous work with protocols and adjustments to make sure this season goes off without a hitch, but even the best laid plans can have their bumps in the road. The Steelers experienced that first hand with an unexpected bye week after the Titans’ outbreak forced their Week 4 game to be moved.

Who do the experts think will be the team to beat this postseason? Power Rankings are one way to decipher who they like, or don’t like, at any particular juncture of the season. Heading into the playoffs, there is a lot which can be expected. The Chiefs find themselves at the top of most rankings, while the Green Bay Packers or the New Orleans Saints are everyone’s favorite now in the NFC.

Where do the Steelers fall? Well that depends. Take a look at some of the Power Rankings below, and be sure to let us know what you think of the rankings in the comment section below!

NFL.com

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Buffalo Bills
3. Green Bay Packers
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Pittsburgh Steelers

“We saw it from Ben Roethlisberger in the second half against the Colts in Week 16, and then again from Mason Rudolph throughout Week 17’s narrow loss to the Browns: The Steelers have reintroduced deep strikes to their passing attack, with positive results. It’s an element of their game that was missing for most of the season, which eventually led to defenses clamping down on the underneath throws that had been Roethlisberger’s bread-and-butter during Pittsburgh’s 11-0 start. If Big Ben can challenge the Browns deep the way Rudolph did on Sunday, the Steelers should be in good position to pile up points against Cleveland’s unremarkable defense. Don’t be surprised if Cris Collinsworth is singing hosannas for Chase Claypool on Sunday night.”

9. Cleveland Browns
10. Tennessee Titans

The Sporting News

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Green Bay Packers
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Buffalo Bills
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Tennessee Titans
9. Pittsburgh Steelers

“Consider the Steelers (12-4) to be the anti-Titans. They don’t have a reliable running game to set up a downfield passing game, relying heavily on Ben Roethlisberger dinking and dunking well on short-to-intermediate throws to move the ball. Defensively, they do stop the run consistently, backed up by a daunting pass rush and a secondary full of good cover men.

The Steelers’ offense is capable of getting hot with their talented receivers under Big Ben, but there’s limited evidence to think they can outscore four teams to win again with Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin.”

10. Indianapolis Colts

CBS Sports

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Seattle Seahawks
5. New Orleans Saints
6. Pittsburgh Steelers

“They sat a bunch of guys in losing to the Browns, but those players will be back this week for the rematch in the first round. They showed well Sunday, even undermanned.”

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Indianapolis Colts
10. Cleveland Browns

Sports Illustrated

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Buffalo Bills
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Pittsburgh Steelers

“The Steelers have fallen off since their 11–0 start, but a 12-win season (resting some stars in Week 17) is still a great bounce-back season.”

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Seattle Seahawks
9. Tennessee Titans
10. Indianapolis Colts