Steelers Read & React: Are the Steelers who we thought they’d be?

So…let’s talk about Sunday.

With their frustrating loss to the Chicago Bears, the Steelers not only lost the AFC North lead, but also tumbled out of playoff position altogether. If the season ended today, Mike Tomlin and crew would be left crooning whatever the NFL postseason’s equivalent is to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

With six games left on the schedule, the Steelers are technically still in the thick of things, at least mathematically speaking. However, with games against the Bills, Lions and a double dose of Ravens making up the majority of the remaining schedule, the margin for error has never been thinner.

The Athletic’s playoff prediction model gives Pittsburgh just a 20% chance of making the playoffs. ESPN’s model is a little kinder, but still only gives the Black and Gold a