What was a good night for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 thanks to a 27-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens in a crucial AFC North matchup ended with concern for wide receiver DK Metcalf.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on December 8 that after the hard shot Metcalf took during the game, he began experiencing stomach pains once the team boarded its plane. He was removed before takeoff and stayed behind in Baltimore overnight to visit a local hospital to rule out any significant internal injuries.
Even though at 7-6 Pittsburgh sits atop the AFC North, it will need to regroup quickly and maintain that position to make a third straight playoff appearance, staving off Baltimore. That starts with beating the Miami Dolphins — and having Aaron Rodgers’ top receiver available will be crucial.
The Steelers will now turn their attention to hosting a red-hot Miami team on Monday Night Football on December 15. Miami has won five of its last six and four straight, looking to make a upset.
“The Dolphins are as hot as any team in the NFL,” Mike Tomlin said.
Mike Tomlin Gives Positive Update on DK Metcalf’s Status Against Dolphins
Speaking with reporters on December 9, Tomlin was immediately asked about Metcalf’s health. The Steelers head coach made it clear he expects Metcalf to play for the upcoming December 15 matchup.
“I don’t think it’s going to jeopardize his availability at all,” Tomlin said, according to The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo.
Tomlin added that the injury could affect Metcalf’s participation in early-week practices, but he should be ready by Monday night.
This is no doubt welcome news for Pittsburgh, which faced the possibility of losing its most dynamic receiving threat at a critical point in the season. The Steelers cannot afford that. Metcalf leads the team by a wide margin in receptions (52), yards (753) and receiving touchdowns (5). The next closest in yardage is Calvin Austin III with 309 yards, while running back Kenneth Gainwell is second in receptions with 50. Tight end Pat Freiermuth has four touchdowns.
Steelers’ Remaining Schedule Bodes Well for Playoff Berth
The Steelers’ remaining regular-season schedule offers a manageable path to the postseason, with the seventh-easiest in the NFL. They’ll split the final four games with two at home and two on the road, beginning with 6-7 Miami at Acrisure Stadium. After that, they travel for back-to-back games against the 8-5 Detroit Lions and 3-10 Cleveland Browns before finishing at home with a rematch against the Ravens — a game that could be the de facto AFC North Championship game.
The Ravens, who have the sixth-toughest schedule remaining, are already out of the wild-card picture, meaning the division is their only path. But Baltimore faces a significantly tougher stretch than Pittsburgh. After Cincinnati (4-9), they travel to Green Bay (9-3-1) before closing against the 11-2 New England Patriots.
Right now, the Steelers occupy the No. 4 seed in the AFC. Thanks to their head-to-head and division tiebreakers over Baltimore, they currently hold a 73% chance to make the playoffs, per SportsLine projections. The Ravens have a 24% chance, while the Bengals have just 3%.
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