The Pittsburgh Steelers spent the 2018 and 2019 season as postseason observers, on the outside looking in. In both cases, they were in contention entering the final week of the season, but didn’t get the help they needed (in the case of the latter season, they also didn’t help themselves).
After going 9-6-1 and then 8-8, though, the Steelers came back last year to go 12-4. They not only made it back to the postseason, but reclaimed their place as the champions of the AFC North. Of course, they would lose to their division rivals, the Cleveland Browns, as a wildcard in the opening round.