Steelers Fans Rejoice as Spot in 2024 NFL Playoff Picture Gets Boost with Week 18 Win | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

By Editor On Jan 7, 2024

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 06: Mark Robinson #93 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Alex Highsmith #56 celebrate after a sack in the second quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Rob Carr/Getty Images

With the season on the line, the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a victory over the Baltimore Ravens in order to give it the best chance at making the postseason.

It was ugly but Pittsburgh got the job done.

Pittsburgh Steelers @steelers

Took care of business <a href=”https://twitter.com/UnibetUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@UnibetUS</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/HereWeGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#HereWeGo</a> <a href=”https://t.co/kIsxRhzNIw”>pic.twitter.com/kIsxRhzNIw</a>

NFL @NFL

FINAL: A huge win for the <a href=”https://twitter.com/steelers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@steelers</a> as they fight for a spot in the playoffs. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/PITvsBAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#PITvsBAL</a> <a href=”https://t.co/jG1pu50XdA”>pic.twitter.com/jG1pu50XdA</a>

The Ravens, who entered the game locked-in as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, did not have quarterback Lamar Jackson on the field. Still, Pittsburgh relied on Mason Rudolph as the signal-caller and lost star linebacker T.J. Watt in the second half to a knee injury.

Rudolph was very efficient in the game, going 18-of-20 for 152 yards and a touchdown. Still, a majority of those yards came on one explosive play that saw Dionte Johnson go for 71 yards and a huge touchdown.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

DIONTAE JOHNSON TAKES IT 71 YDS FOR THE LEAD ? (via <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFL</a>) <a href=”https://t.co/MvEvtltWDv”>pic.twitter.com/MvEvtltWDv</a>

Najee Harris was the top rusher for Pittsburgh, having 26 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown. Johnson finished with four catches for 89 yards and that massive touchdown, while the Steelers defense limited Baltimore to just 224 yards of offense and sacked Tyler Huntley four times.

Fans on social media praised the Steelers resiliency and head coach Mike Tomlin’s ability to consistently produce teams with winning records.

Eric @TooFresh208

Steelers did what they needed to do <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/HereWeGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#HereWeGo</a>

Frick @joefrk

Steelers fans to Mike Tomlin: <a href=”https://t.co/EBAoqXTupp”>pic.twitter.com/EBAoqXTupp</a>

Ross Tucker @RossTuckerNFL

Mike Tomlin won ten games with bottom 10 (bottom 5?) QB play and every Steelers fan I know was adamant he should be fired 3 weeks ago. ?‍♂️

Brian Horn @BrianHo55101106

Congratulations to QB Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers on a great win against the Baltimore Ravens.

Matt Infield @Matt_Infield

Seriously respect the hell out of the Steelers as an organization and especially Tomlin. There are just other teams and QBs I’d rather see in the playoffs than them led by Mason Rudolph lol <a href=”https://t.co/UqDoaxZkqs”>https://t.co/UqDoaxZkqs</a>

Paul Rigney @PaulRRigney

The Steelers getting in by a tie would be VERY funny.

Chris Suppers @chris_suppers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not lost a game this entire year.

Odds Shark @OddsShark

Would Mike Tomlin be the best coach in Steelers history if Pittsburgh clinched a playoff birth? <a href=”https://t.co/ic8UEBvkqh”>pic.twitter.com/ic8UEBvkqh</a>

Cleo Griffith @GriffithCleo

Mason Rudolph for MVP, this man have matured so much I’m very happy for him <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Steelers</a>

James D Koh @JamesDKoh

What is ABUNDANTLY clear is that if the Steelers fired Matt Canada last offseason they absolutely would be in the playoffs right now

Tim Benz @TimBenzPGH

I’m still baffled at the notion that this <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Steelers</a> team might go 5-1 in-divison…against a division that may have all four teams finish above .500…and two losses to two last place teams at home in other divisions still may cost them the playoffs.

The Steelers still need some help in order to clinch a playoff spot. A tie between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts Saturday night would get Pittsburgh there, as would a loss by the Buffalo Bills and a loss or tie by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter

Steelers now need one of these three scenarios to happen in order to make the playoffs: ?Jaguars lose to Titans or tie. ?Bills lose to Dolphins. ?Colts-Texans game ends in a tie. <a href=”https://t.co/Y320zMoDCi”>pic.twitter.com/Y320zMoDCi</a>

Bill Barnwell @billbarnwell

Steelers playoff scenarios (no ties edition): Bills + Jags both win -> Steelers out Bills win, Jags lose -> Steelers @ Bills Jags win, Bills lose -> Steelers @ Dolphins Both Bills and Jags lose -> Steelers @ Chiefs

If the Steelers were to fall short of the postseason, it would be the first time a 10-win team had missed the playoffs since the playoff field expanded to seven teams per conference in the 2021 season.

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