Steelers Playoff Picture: Pittsburgh leads wildcard race in AFC

Not only are the Pittsburgh Steelers riding high off a big road win, but they are feeling good about their postseason chances. 

With six games remaining and two divisional matchups left, games like this Sunday's matchup with the Cardinals will be critical for Pittsburgh. 

That's because the race for the AFC wildcard is getting tighter by the week, even after Pittsburgh received a huge boost:

AFC playoff picture if the season ended today:

1. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) - 1st AFC North
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) - 1st AFC West
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3) - 1st AFC South
4. Miami Dolphins (8-3) - 1st AFC East
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) - Wild Card
6. Cleveland Browns (7-4) - Wild Card
7. Indianapolis Colts (6-5) - Wild Card

In the hunt:

• Houston Texans (6-5)
• Denver Broncos (6-5)
• Buffalo Bills (6-6)
• Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)
• Las Vegas Raiders (5-7)
• Los Angeles Chargers (4-7)
• Tennessee Titans (4-7)
• New York Jets (4-7)
• New England Patriots (2-9)

This time a week ago the Steelers were in the seventh and final spot in the playoff race following a loss to the Browns. But after Cleveland dropped one of their own against the Broncos and the Texans lost to the Jaguars, Pittsburgh has jumped two spots to the 5th seed and atop the wildcard race. 

Will the Steelers make the playoffs?

The Steelers saw a dramatic increase in their playoff odds following the win over Cincinnati, with the New York Times now giving the team a 78% chance to reach the playoffs (up from 70%) and ESPN's Football Power Index giving the team a 73% percent chance of making the postseason, which up is up from 53%. 

Can Pittsburgh win the AFC North?

The Steelers' current odds to win the division sit at +550, which makes sense when you consider that the Ravens are first in the North and the entire AFC. That being said, Baltimore has the hardest remaining schedule in the NFL, including a date to close out the regular season with Pittsburgh. 

Steelers’ remaining schedule: