After a 7-2-1 start this season, the Steelers were in position to earn a top seed in the AFC. But after losing four of the last six games, the team will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Here’s how the 2018 Steelers season looked through the eyes of Post-Gazette photographers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers playoff hopes end as running back Stevan Ridley, strong safety Terrell Edmunds and fullback Roosevelt Nix-Jones watch the Cleveland Browns lose to the Ravens after the Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at Heinz Field. A Browns win would have given the Steelers a playoff berth. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster reacts after Oakland Raiders tight end Derek Carrier scores in the final minute of play, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, at the Oakland Coliseum. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers cornerback Joe Haden reacts after his interception in the fourth quarter against New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stiff arms Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers running back James Conner scores a touchdown against the Falcons in the third quarter, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown arrives in his Porsche, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at Heinz Field. Brown was cited for driving over 100 mph in the car earlier that day. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger reacts after throwing an incomplete pass against the Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden catches an interception in front of New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 stretches the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown leaps for the end zone to score a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers running back James Conner celebrates with Antonio Brown after scoring against the Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin argues with a down judge, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jason Pierre-Paul pulls down Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown shows his frustration after not converting a fourth down against the Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro gets in the face of Carolina Panthers strong safety Eric Reid, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gets a Father’s Day hug from his daughter, Baylee, 4, during his Pro Camp Sunday, June 17, 2018, at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt sacks Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and causes him to fumble, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown blows past the Cincinnati Bengals secondary on his way to the end zone to score, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster reacts while watching the Cleveland game with Cincinnati Bengals cornerback KeiVarae Russell Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at the Heinz Field, Pittsburgh. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers running back James Conner carries against the Falcons in the first quarter, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)Steelers running back James Conner, left, and wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster celebrate on the sidelines during a game against the Atlanta Falcons, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)Steelers tight end Vance McDonald is hit in the face by Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)Steelers running back James Conner scores a touchdown against the Browns in the fourth quarter, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster pulls in a pass for a first down against the Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt celebrates after sacking Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers tight end Jesse James helps push running back James Conner to the end zone, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers Ryan Shazier pumps up the defense during the game against the Carolina Panthers, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster reacts after his fumble late in the fourth quarter against the Saints, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt leaps during player introductions before the Steelers play the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)Steelers wide receiver JuJu-Smith Schuster, left, celebrates a touchdown by wide receiver Antonio Brown, right, against the Falcons in the fourth quarter, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 at Heinz Field. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)Oakland Raiders wide receiver Seth Roberts makes a catch for a first down against Steelers strong safetysMorgan Burnett and Terrell Edmunds, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)Steelers cornerback Artie Burns lays on the ground as Los Angeles Chargers tight end Virgil Green, left, punter Donnie Jones, center, and Los Angeles Chargers kicker Mike Badgley react after the winning field goal, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
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