The Steelers had gone five years without a losing streak of at least four games until dropping four straight in 2022. They succe sfully avoided another such streak on Saturday with a 34-11 win over the Bengals.Pittsburgh dropped three straight games to the Cardinals, Patriots and Colts, all bad lo ses for different reasons. The first two came against opponents that had won only two games all season until facing Pittsburgh. The last defeat came to another team in Jared Walsh Jersey the AFC wild-card race.Before that losing streak, the Steelers beat the Bengals in Jake Browning's first NFL start. While a different quarterback was under center for Pittsburgh this time, the Steelers still got the job done against Cincinnati and delivered a jolt to the AFC wild-card race.MORE: Saturday's game was of the utmost importance for Pittsburgh. The AFC playoff picture is loaded with teams that are at least two games above .500 at present, all of whom entered the day ahead of the Steelers. The victory breathed life into Mike Tomlin's hopes of extending his streak without a losing season and also sparked some hope that the playoffs are still on the table for his team.Here's a look at the Steelers' playoff chances after Saturday's game.Steelers playoff pictureThe Steelers currently sit No. 9 in the AFC at 8-7 after Saturday's win over the Bengals and the results of Sunday's games. Seed Team Record 1 Ravens 11-3 2 Dolphins 11-4 3 Chiefs 9-5 4 Jaguars 8-7 5 Browns 10-5 6 Bills 9-6 7 Colts 8-7 8 Texans 8-7 9 Steelers 8-7 10 Bengals 8-7 11 Broncos 7-8The Steelers already entered Saturday guaranteed to have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bengals. By winning, Pittsburgh jumped Cincinnati with both teams now 8-7.This is where it starts to get problematic for the Steelers. Pittsburgh has faced three non-division foes in the wild-card race: the Texans, Jaguars and Colts. It has lost all three games. That's three tiebreakers that would all go against Pittsburgh. That problem still persists even after the win and lo ses by the Colts and Texans, so the Steelers will need some of those teams to do plenty of losing down the stretch.If Pittsburgh somehow manages to wind up tied with Cleveland, which looks unlikely after the Browns win, the two would likely either look at divisional record or conference record. Pittsburgh could finish with a Shohei Ohtani Jersey better AFC North record if it beats Cincinnati and Baltimore and Cleveland loses to Cincinnati in the last week of the season.If their divisional records are also tied at the end of the year, it would go to conference tiebreakers. Cleveland currently has the edge 7-3 to Pittsburgh's 6-5 AFC record. The Browns have two conference games left against the Jets and Bengals. Pittsburgh has two conference games left in the Bengals and Ravens.WEEK 16 PICKS: | | Steelers remaining scheduleThe Steelers have a tough schedule the rest of the season. Per Sporting News' projection model, the Steelers are underdogs in both of their remaining games, including ma sive underdogs against the Ravens in the final week of the season. Week Opponent Steelers' win odds 17 at Seahawks 38.9% 18 at Ravens Rod Carew Jersey 9.8%It's po sible the Ravens might be resting starters in the final week of the season if they already have the No. 1 seed in the AFC locked up and decide not to risk injury, in which case the Steelers would likely get a bit of a boost, particularly if they're playing for their playoff lives.But ending the year facing three teams all with playoff aspirations, with two of them coming on the road, is a tough way to end the campaign.Steelers playoff chancesPer Sporting News' projection model, the Steelers entered Saturday with a 4.5 percent chance of reaching the playoffs.Here's a look at the playoff odds without the Ravens and Chiefs, who are both all but guaranteed to win their respective divisions. Team xW-L Div% WC% Playoff% Dolphins 12-5 78.2% 21.6% 99.9% Jaguars 10-7 59.0% 28.8% 87.8% Browns 10-7 3.0% 72.5% 75.4% Bills 10-7 21.8% 41.3% 63.1% Texans 10-7 20.5% 41.8% 62.3% Colts 10-7 20.5% 37.2% 57.7% Broncos 9-8 0.6% 25.5% 26.1% Bengals 10-7 0.0% 23.1% 23.1% Steelers 8-9 0.0% 4.5% 4.5%Sporting News' model is currently projecting Tomlin's streak of seasons at .500 or better will Yunel Escobar Jersey end in 2023, projecting an average win-lo s record of 8-9. It also envisions the Steelers as by far the least likely playoff team to reach the postseason of the teams at 7-7 or better still left in the wild-card hunt.The biggest problem for Pittsburgh really is that schedule and already being behind most of the other contenders. It would require multiple meltdowns by other teams down the stretch to get Pittsburgh all the way back in the picture. And most other teams have an easier schedule to wind down the year.Here's how other AFC wild-card foes rank in opponents' win percentage the rest of the season: Team Opponents Win Percentage Dolphins Cowboys, Ravens, Bills .690 (1) Steelers Bengals, Seahawks, Ravens .619 (t-4) Bengals Steelers, Chiefs, Browns .595 Cameron Maybin Jersey (7) Texans Browns, Titans, Colts .524 (t-14) Browns Texans, Jets, Bengals .500 (t-17) Colts Falcons, Raiders, Texans .476 (t-19) Bills Chargers, Patriots, Dolphins .429 (24) Broncos Patriots, Chargers, Raiders .333 (t-29) Jaguars Buccaneers, Panthers, Titans .333 (t-29)Among those teams only the Dolphins, who are currently leading the AFC East at 10-4, have a harder schedule to end the year than Pittsburgh, whichends the year facing teams with a combined winning percentage of .619.The path is looking narrow for Pittsburgh. That's not to say there isn't some magic left in this season. But for the Steelers to have any realistic chance, they have to start by beating the Bengals on Saturday.