Steelers Need to Root for Chargers Win over Bills for Playoff Help

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers salvaged their own playoff hopes with a 34-11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday night, and now they will have to hope to get some help to maximize their odds going forward.

The Steelers entered the day on Saturday with a 5% chance to make the playoffs, according to the New York Times. The Steelers more the doubled their odds of making it to the postseason tournament with their win over Cincinnati, jumping all the way up to 11%.

Saturday night, they could get another significant bump if the Los Angeles Chargers can beat the Buffalo Bills. An L.A. win over the surging Bills would move the Steelers all the way to 17%, but if Josh Allen and company are able to take care of business, the Steelers will finish the day with 9% playoff odds.

The Bills are significant favorites to win in L.A., as they are 12-point favorites. The Chargers just recently fired head coach Brandon Staley and are starting backup quarterback Eason Stick in the contest, as Justin Herbert remains sidelined with a finger injury.

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

1 Baltimore Ravens 11-3
2 Miami Dolphins 10-4
3 Kansas City Chiefs 9-5
4 Jacksonville Jaguars 8-6
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5 Cleveland Browns 9-5
6 Indianapolis Colts 8-6
7 Houston Texans 8-6
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8 Buffalo Bills 8-6
9 Pittsburgh Steelers 8-7
10 Cincinnati Bengals 8-7
11 Denver Broncos 7-7
12 Las Vegas Raiders 6-8
13 Los Angeles Chargers 5-9
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14 Tennessee Titans 5-9
15 New York Jets 5-9
16 New England Patriots 3-11