However, despite only having a 6% chance to make the playoffs according to FiveThirtyEight before Week 18, they did clinch a Wild Card spot that week as well as make the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 2014–2017 after defeating the Baltimore Ravens, combined with the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers not tying and the Jacksonville Jaguars upsetting the Indianapolis Colts; this came despite the Steelers finishing with a −55 point differential.
Running backs (RB) Wide receivers (WR) Tight ends (TE) Defensive linemen (DL) Defensive backs (DB) Special teams Reserve On February 15, the NFL announced that the Steelers would face the Dallas Cowboys in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 5, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
The Steelers were represented by former head coach Bill Cowher and safeties Troy Polamalu and Donnie Shell.
In the second quarter, they made the halftime score 10-0 when Josh Allen found Gabe Davis for a 3-yard touchdown pass.
After halftime, the Steelers went to work, with Chris Boswell scoring 2 field goals in the third quarter, from 24 and 20 yards out, to make it 10-3 and then 10-6.
In the fourth quarter, the Steelers would take the lead when Ben Roethlisberger found Diontae Johnson on a 5-yard touchdown pass to make it 13-10.
Miles Killebrew then blocked a punt and Ulysees Gilbert III returned it 9 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-10.
The Raiders increased their lead in the third quarter when Derek Carr found Foster Moreau on a 9-yard touchdown pass to make it 16-7.
The Steelers tied it up in the second quarter when Ben Roethlisberger found Pat Freiermuth on a 4-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7.
The Steelers scored the only points in the first quarter when Ben Roethlisberger found Diontae Johnson on a 45-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0.
In the third quarter, it was all Packers as Crosby made a 29-yard field goal, followed by Rodgers' second touchdown pass to Cobb from a yard out to make it 27-10.
Bridgewater threw the game-losing interception to cornerback James Pierre, sealing the Steelers' victory and snapping their 3-game losing skid.
Unfortunately, any celebration was muted as the team later learned the full diagnosis of the midgame injury sustained by JuJu Smith-Schuster; a dislocated shoulder from a hit delivered by Kareem Jackson, which was initially believed to have ended his season.
[7] Smith-Schuster, however, would heal quicker than originally anticipated and make a surprise recovery and return to the lineup just in time for the playoffs.
In overtime, T. J. Watt forced a Geno Smith fumble recovered by Devin Bush that would lead to Boswell kicking the 37-yard game-winning field goal to make the final score 23-20.
However, the Steelers pulled ahead by double digits as Roethlisberger and Freiermuth hooked up again on a 10-yard touchdown pass (with a failed PAT) to make it 20-6.
The Steelers scored the only points in the first quarter when Mason Rudolph found James Washington on a 9-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0.
The Chargers would add to their lead in the third quarter when Herbert and Ekeler connected again for a 17-yard touchdown pass, making the score 24-10 and then 27-10 when Hopkins kicked a 41-yard field goal.
In the fourth quarter, the Steelers came closer when Boswell kicked another 36-yard field goal to make it 27-13 and then 27-20 when Najee Harris ran for a 1-yard touchdown.
The Steelers put up 3 straight scores to take the lead: Roethlisberger found Eric Ebron on a 5-yard touchdown pass, shortening the lead to 34-27, followed up with Roethlisberger connecting with Pat Freiermuth on a 5-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 34-34, followed by Boswell's lead-taking 45-yard field goal to make it 37-34.
In the fourth quarter, the Steelers came within a point when Ben Roethlisberger found Diontae Johnson on a 26-yard touchdown pass (with a failed PAT) to make it 10-9.
The Steelers then scored twice to take a 20-13 lead after Boswell kicked a 43-yard field goal and then Roethlisberger connected with Johnson again on a 5-yard touchdown pass.
The Ravens then made it 20-19 when Lamar Jackson found Sammy Watkins on a 6-yard touchdown pass (with a failed 2-point conversion).
After a tough home win over the Ravens, the Steelers traveled to Minneapolis for a Thursday Night game against the Vikings.
In the first quarter, the Titans made it 10-0 with Ryan Tannehill's 1-yard touchdown run followed by Randy Bullock's 26-yard field goal.
In the second half, it was all Steelers, with a Ben Roethlisberger 1-yard rushing touchdown and three more Boswell field goals, making the final score 19-13.
Throughout the first 3 quarters, the Chiefs managed to jump out to a 30–0 lead before the Steelers finally got on the board when Chris Boswell kicked a 34-yard field goal with 3:34 to go in the third.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Steelers were able to get on the board in the second after Ben Roethlisberger and Diontae Johnson connected on a 5-yard touchdown pass to make it 7–0.
The Browns got on the board later on in the quarter, when Baker Mayfield found David Njoku on a 3-yard touchdown pass to make it 13–7.
The Steelers retook the lead in the fourth quarter when Ben Roethlisberger found Chase Claypool on a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 13–10.