Shots Fired: Analyst Guarantees Dolphins Playoff Win Over Steelers

Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers hobbled into the playoffs with their third quarterback and second offensive coordinator. They ran into the buzzsaw that was the red-hot Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round.

The Steelers never stood a chance.

After the 31-17 loss in Western New York, Pittsburgh kept its reputation as a feisty team with no potency come playoff time. When the going gets tough, the Steelers aren’t going to have the offensive firepower to stay afloat.

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It’s a reputation they’ll look to shake in 2024.

One analyst, though, is confident in Pittsburgh remaining stagnant. On “Drive Time,” a Miami Dolphins podcast, Travis Wingfield spoke about what the AFC playoffs might look like.

“Sometimes winning playoff games is as favorable as your draw. Granted, good for the Lions, they won their division and that Rams team was no easy out, even though I picked against them all year,” Wingfield said. “That was a good Rams football team they beat, but then they get the Bucs in the Divisional Round?

“Can we have that? Can we get the Steelers, at home, in the Divisional Round this year? That would be a guaranteed trip to the Conference Championship game.”

Miami, of course, has run into Buffalo and the Kansas City Chiefs in its last two playoff appearances. That’s a far step from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Pittsburgh’s two candidates under center.

Unfortunately for Steelers fans, that line of thinking isn’t off-base. There is luck involved in the path to the Super Bowl, and playing a team just happy to be there – the public perception of a team without high-level quarterback play – is a godsend as the weather worsens.

If the Minkah Fitzpatrick Bowl does happen, it’ll likely be on Dolphins turf, where Pittsburgh will be at a quarterbacking disadvantage. However unlikely it may be, the only way to make the playoffs and shake that scarlet letter is by winning when it matters most.

The Steelers’ work is cut out for them.