There have been 31 different teams to make the playoffs since 2017.
There have been 22 teams to play at least three playoff games since 2017.
But the only team to go winless in at least three trips to the playoffs is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They've made the playoffs five times since 2017.
They are 0-5.
Unfortunately, the way their schedule sets up this year, it's tough to imagine they will be rolling well enough at the end of the season to win a playoff game.
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They play in Ireland Week 4 and have the earliest bye week possible in Week 5.
From Week 7, their schedule ranks #1 most difficult based on opponent and #3 most difficult based on rest.
If this sounds similar to last year, that's because it is.
I talked all offseason last year about how the Steelers had the NFL's #1 toughest schedule, including an absolute gauntlet from Week 11 onward.
And of course, the Steelers were sitting at 7-2 and in first place in the AFC North before they hit that gauntlet.
They went 3-5 the rest of the way, and it was hilarious to me how people blamed Russ for the Steelers losing four straight to close the season.
They played the Eagles and Ravens on the road, then the Chiefs to complete 3 games in 10 days, followed by a narrow two-point loss to the Bengals in Week 18, in which Steelers running backs averaged 3.2 yards per carry.
Those of us who studied the schedule in detail knew that no matter who the Steelers had at quarterback, they would struggle to win down the stretch, and it would be dramatic as to whether they would make the playoffs or not.
Well, rinse and repeat for 2025.
The only difference is that, instead of having a nice Week 9 bye in the middle of the schedule, it's a month earlier.
The other difference is that, in addition to the brutal opponents, the Steelers' rest down this stretch is insane.
Of the Steelers' six toughest games based on strongest opponents, they have a rest or scheduling disadvantage in five of them:
- 3-day rest disadvantage vs Buffalo
- 1-day rest disadvantage vs Detroit
- 3-day rest disadvantage vs Baltimore
- 7-day disadvantage vs Cincinnati
- Short week road game vs Cincinnati (road TNF game)
From Week 13 through 16, they are at a rest disadvantage in three of four games.
From Week 11 through 16, they have a rest disadvantage in four of six games.
And that's on top of the brutal opponents.
Rest will likely be more of an issue due to their early bye week.
By late November and mid December, this team will be dragging, and then they have to play against more rested opponents who just so happen to be teams like the Bills, Lions, and Ravens.
Last year, the Steelers played seven games against teams that had a winning record from Week 10 onward.
The most in the NFL.
Unfortunately, their schedule this year is set up for another brutal close to the season, making it extremely unlikely they will have the capacity to win in the postseason or the ability to even survive this gauntlet and make it there.
