Steelers Burning Questions: Will the Steelers make the playoffs?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the Cleveland Browns in Week 18, and with the new week comes a new set of questions for Steelers fans to answer. Throughout the 8-8 season, many fans of the black and gold are starting to see their confidence fluctuate heading into the regular season finale.

Even after a Week 1 overtime win vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, there were massive questions which remained. Throw in the Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots with a prime time loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 3, and doubt officially crept into every fans’ minds. When you add in the Steelers falling flat in Week 4 vs. the New York Jets, most fans were beyond fed up.

Shockingly, with Kenny Pickett’s entrance into the lineup vs. the Jets, confidence grew despite a loss in Week 4. The good vibes for Pickett didn’t last after the debacle vs. the Buffalo Bills in Week 5.

With fans about done with having any confidence in the team, the Steelers rebounded in Week 6 to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home, but needing two quarterbacks to do it. Was the win over Tom Brady and the boys enough to lift the fans’ confidence? Following the prime time loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 7, probably not much. In Week 8 the team fell flat against the Philadelphia Eagles, another dud against a Super Bowl contender. After the bye week, the Steelers got back in the win column with a nice win over the New Orleans Saints, but those good vibes didn’t last long after a 37-30 loss to the Bengals in Week 11.

Week 12 brought more positive vibes as the Steelers beat the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football by the score of 24-17, moving their record to 4-7. Another win over the Atlanta Falcons got their record to 5-7 before things came crashing down with a Week 14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The loss plunged their record to 5-8, and all but certified a non-playoff season.

What came next was something no one predicted. The Steelers rattled off three straight wins over the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens.

So, with that being said, it is time to ask some key questions to the fan base as Week 18 quickly approaches. We call them the ‘Steelers Burning Questions’, and there is one which is consistent every week.

Are you confident in the team moving forward?

Other than that staple question, some other questions can be added to help give readers at BTSC, and Steelers fans in general, a voice in what they think about the team. This week it is a question about the Steelers’ chances at making the playoffs. After their three-straight wins, and getting some needed help, the team needs the Buffalo Bills to beat the New England Patriots and the New York Jets to beat the Miami Dolphins. Will it happen? Here’s the official question and options:

Will the Steelers make the AFC Playoffs?

• Yes
• No

How do you participate in this exercise? It’s easy. All you have to do is scroll down to the poll and place your vote. The results of the votes will be published on BTSC later in the week, but getting as many votes as possible is the key with the SB Nation Reacts, powered by DraftKings Sportsbook.

So, go ahead in place your votes below, and feel free to explain yourself in the comment section below the article! In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the final week of the regular season.

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