The race for the postseason is unforgiving. Every snap matters. Every mistake lingers. There are no style points in December—only survival. Luckily for Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers, they are playing like a team that understands this reality better than most. Sunday delivered more than just a nail-biting 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions. It delivered clarity.
And by the time Sunday Night Football wrapped up, it also delivered an unexpected gift from their most familiar rivals.
The Baltimore Ravens handed the Steelers the keys to the AFC North.
Fresh off Pittsburgh’s gritty victory against Detroit, Steelers fans settled in to watch Baltimore host the New England Patriots.