Can someone please explain how the hell the Steelers are still alive?

[radiclib]

There's no scenario I can come up with. In any tie with any combination of other potential 8-8 teams, they lose.

[madinmaryland]

1. It is a bit of a convoluted scenario:

Teams Critical to Steelers' Playoff Chances Team Week 17 Opponent Scenario
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) vs. Cleveland Browns Steelers Must Win
New York Jets (7-8) at. Miami Dolphins Jets Must Win
Miami Dolphins (8-7) vs. New York Jets Dolphins Must Lose
San Diego Chargers (8-7) vs. Kansas City Chiefs Chargers Must Lose
Baltimore Ravens (8-7) at Cincinnati Bengals Ravens Must Lose

Essentially if all five teams finish at 8-8, the Squealers make the playoffs. It probably comes down to the record against common opponents.

[radiclib]

2. If all of that happens, the Steelers still have the inferior record

against A-All conference teams AND B-Common opponents.
Every year at this time, the NFL presents a way to make my hair hurt.

[fishwax]

3. It's because Baltimore and Miami are eliminated first

When more than two teams are tied for a wild card spot, the first step is to eliminate all but one team from each division by using the divisional tie-breakers.

Pittsburgh (2 wins over Cleveland, 1 win over Baltimore, and 1 win over Cincinnati) would have a better record within the division than Baltimore (1-1 against everyone), so Baltimore is eliminated.

The Jets (1-1 against everyone) would have a better record within the division than Miami (1 win over Jets, 1 over Pats, 0 over Bills), so Miami is eliminated.

That leaves The Steelers, the Jets, and the Chargers. No team played both of the others, so head-to-head doesn't come into play. The next step is conference winning percentage. The Steelers went 2-2 against the NFC, meaning they would be 6-6 against the AFC. Both the Jets and Chargers went 3-1 against the NFC, leaving them 5-7 against the AFC.

Therefore, the Steelers get the final playoff spot.

[radiclib]

5. Thank you

Now I can sleep. I know I need a life...

[radiclib]

4. Eureka!

If the Steelers win out to finish 8-8 while the Ravens lose out to finish 8-8, the Steelers would be considered the second place team in the AFC North, based on their superior record within the division. The Steelers would also need the Dolphins to lose out and the Jets to win out, which would make both of those teams 8-8, and would make the Jets the second-place team in the AFC East based on a superior division record.

Because the first step of a tiebreaker with more than one teams is to use the divisional tiebreakers to eliminate all but one team from each division, a four-way tiebreaker among the Ravens, Steelers, Dolphins and Jets would turn into a two-way tiebreaker between the Steelers and Jets, which the Steelers would win based on a superior conference record.

The Steelers would also need the Chargers to lose at least one of their two remaining games. If the Chargers lose one game to finish at 8-8, the Steelers would win a tiebreaker with them based on a superior conference record.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/19/steelers-slim-playoff-hopes-hinge-on-four-or-five-way-tie/

OK so I forgot about the freakin' Jets! Shoot me now...