At 7-2-1 following a big comeback win in Jacksonville, the Steelers were sitting atop the AFC North with a 2 1/2-game lead over the second-place Bengals and Ravens, both 5-5 at that point.
Just five week later, the Steelers find themselves in dire straits heading into the final week. Now just 8-6-1, they no longer control their own playoff fate. They've been passed by the Ravens (9-6) for first place and need a win Sunday at Heinz Field over the Bengals (6-9) and a loss by the Ravens at home against the Browns (7-7-1) to secure their fifth consecutive playoff appearance.
What happened?
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