The NFL landscape can shift dramatically in a matter of hours, and nowhere was this more evident than in the AFC North this past Sunday. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who began the day atop their division and holding the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture, found themselves suddenly plunged into uncertainty after a defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears. The loss dropped Pittsburgh to a 6-5 record and pushed them down to the No. 8 seed in the conference standings, effectively knocking them out of playoff contention for the moment.
Pittsburgh’s fall from grace was compounded by the Baltimore Ravens’ continued surge. Baltimore, riding a five-game winning streak, matched the Steelers’ record at 6-5 but took over first place in the AFC North due to a better division record (2-0 compared to Pittsburgh’s 2-1). While both teams still have head-to-head matchups remaining, the Ravens have seized momentum. Outside the division, the Steelers now face a crowded and competitive wild-card race. Teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills currently hold 7-4 records, while the Steelers are level with the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs at 6-5 — all vying for the limited remaining playoff spots.
This precipitous decline is not entirely unexpected but rather has been brewing throughout the season. The Steelers started strong, boasting a 4-1 record, but have since lost four of their last six contests. This pattern of mid-season collapses has become distressingly familiar in Pittsburgh in recent years. The 2023 season saw the team enter Week 10 at 6-3 before finishing 4-4 down the stretch and bowing out after a first-round playoff loss. The 2024 campaign was even more disappointing; after an impressive 8-2 start, the Steelers lost five of their last seven games and again exited the playoffs after just one game. Should 2025 follow the same trajectory and lead to missing the postseason altogether, it would surely raise serious questions about the future direction of the franchise and the tenure of head coach Mike Tomlin.
Tomlin, who has been at the helm since 2007, is the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach and boasts an impressive résumé. He has never coached a losing season, maintaining a career win percentage of .615 when combining regular season and playoffs. However, the team’s inability to advance in the playoffs—marked by a drought of playoff wins since 2016—and repeated late-season collapses have put his leadership under scrutiny. This season, questionable coaching decisions have added fuel to the fire. For instance, in Sunday’s loss at Soldier Field, Tomlin opted to go for it on a critical fourth-and-1 from Chicago’s 30-yard line early in the second quarter rather than taking a field goal to extend the lead to two possessions. The direct snap to running back Connor Heyward was stopped cold, squandering a prime scoring opportunity. Chicago then responded with a 70-yard touchdown drive that tied the game and shifted momentum decisively. Moments like these highlight the high stakes and thin margin for error the Steelers face.
Despite the team struggles, there have been standout individual performances across the league that have captured attention. Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks has been nothing short of sensational in 2025. The wide receiver made NFL history by recording at least 75 receiving yards in 11 straight games to start the season, putting him on pace to become the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver. In Week 12, Smith-Njigba hauled in 8 receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns, surpassing DK Metcalf’s single-season franchise receiving yards record—a remarkable feat with several weeks still remaining.
In Detroit, Jahmyr Gibbs delivered a career game, rushing for 250 scrimmage yards and scoring three touchdowns. His impact was especially critical in clutch moments, including a stunning 69-yard touchdown run in overtime that secured the Lions’ victory. This run ranks as the third-longest touchdown run in overtime in NFL history, underscoring Gibbs’ explosive ability to change games in decisive moments.
The New England Patriots also saw a key offensive contributor shine in veteran tight end Hunter Henry. Henry posted a career-high 115 receiving yards to help New England edge out the Cincinnati Bengals, improving the Patriots’ record to 10-2. His consistent presence has been pivotal in the