30 Scenarios in 30 Days: The Steelers will win a playoff game in 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2025 regular season, but before the real games begin, the team has to head to training camp back at Saint Vincent College in order to fine tune their skills. As we here at SCN prepare you for the start of camp, we give you a series called “30 Scenarios in 30 Days” which gives you a Steelers scenario every day leading up to the start of camp.
It is simple how it works. We provide you the scenario, reasons why it will or won’t happen, and then our prediction for what we think will take place.
Let’s get to the scenario…
Scenario: The Steelers will win a playoff game in 2025
Why it will happen: When it comes to why the Steelers can get over the proverbial playoff hump, it sometimes can be chalked up to an age-old saying in sports. To illustrated this saying better, I go back to a line from one of my favorite sports movies, Major League. It’s the postseason, and manager Lou Brown decides to take out the crafty veteran Eddie Harris and bring in Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn in relief. Catcher Jake Taylor looks at Brown and asks why he would bring in Vaughn when the batter he is going to face has had his number all season. Brown’s response is perfect:
“But I got a hunch he’s due.”
That’s the way I feel about the Steelers. Sure, they’ve made tremendous strides in improving their roster, but there is just something about this team, especially the defense, which I feel is more than capable of winning a game in the postseason. If I’m being honest, I think they are far more equipped to win a playoff game this year than since Ben Roethlisberger was the quarterback of the team.
A lot of factors tie into this success, and Arthur Smith’s offensive success or ineptitude might top the list, but I have a hunch this team is due.
Why it won’t happen: Even with the updates to the roster, it still feels as if the Steelers are chasing the rest of the AFC when it comes to being a truly elite contender in the conference. It isn’t as if the Steelers aren’t a capable team, but I think a lot will have to go right for the Steelers to be in the mix in not just the AFC North, but also the AFC.
But we aren’t talking about winning the Super Bowl, or even making the AFC Championship game. We’re just talking about winning a playoff game, and to win any playoff game you have to have quality quarterback play. It’s been a while since the Steelers can say they’ve had that, since Roethlisberger was under center, and it will need to be on point if they want to get over that hump.
Throw in the fact this roster, while improved, is still extremely fragile is another factor. If you lose T.J. Watt to injury, or even Cam Heyward the roster is still lesser than from a depth perspective. The Steelers have an uphill battle ahead of them in terms of winning their first playoff game in a long time.
Prediction: I believe the Steelers will win a playoff game this year, and that game will be a Wild Card game. Will they escape the Divisional Round of the AFC Playoffs? That depends on the location and team they are matched up with, but I foresee the Steelers being ready to take that next step and get their first playoff win since 2016.
Miss a scenario? You can see the full list of scenarios below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp.
The Steelers will go above and beyond their win-loss prediction in 2025
The Steelers will throw more INTs than last season
The Steelers will eclipse 50 sacks in 2025
The Steelers Defense Will Have More Takeaways This Season
Aaron Rodgers will start all 17 games in 2025
DK Metcalf Will Have Double-Digit Receiving TDs
T.J. Watt will break the single-season sack record
The Steelers Will Rush For More Than 2000 Yards In 2025
The Steelers will have a Top 5 Rush Defense
Jalen Ramsey will return to the Pro Bowl in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning record in the AFC North
The Steelers will have a kickoff return for a TD in 2025
Pat Freiermuth will lead the Steelers in touchdowns in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning record at home in 2025
Jaylen Warren will lead the Steelers in rushing
The Steelers will have 30 passing TDs in 2025
Alex Highsmith will have double-digit sacks in 2025
The Steelers will have at least one 2025 starter who is not yet on the roster
Cam Heyward will be named All-Pro in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning September in 2025
Patrick Queen will set career highs in sacks and INTs
The Steelers will have a winning December in 2025
T.J Watt will win Defensive Player of the Year in 2025
The Steelers will not play a meaningless regular season game in 2025
Aaron Rodgers will surpass the Steelers 2024 passing statistics
The Steelers defense will keep opponents under 20 points a game
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: Well first of all, the regular season won’t end until January 4, 2026.
Zing-pow!
Touche lol
It’s all about getting to play the Texans or on that first Saturday of wild card weekend. The afc south always has some stinker team winning it as the 4 seed at 10-7. To get that matchup though, you’ve got to be the 5th seed, which means finishing ahead of the bengals, broncos, Chargers, or any other sleeper that sneaks in this year. Or just win the division too. You don’t want Baltimore, Buffalo, or KC in round 1, which is what the Steelers always get as the 6 or 7 seed since 2021. Then fans are in shock when they don’t beat those elite teams on the road with Rudolph, Wilson, and old Ben with no weapons and blame Tomlin. Okay I’m done ranting on the fire Tomlin crew. Point being, getting that 5 seed is huge. I don’t see it this year if I’m being honest, but give me a playoff loss over no playoffs any year. I love the direction this team is headed. Here we go!
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s I just want Mike Tomlin to win one playoff game so all the sports media groups and Steelers hater with their rat poison would shut up about it
That would be nice, but the media and haters will not change, I think. Too much jerkiness in the world.