Jan 9, 2024 By Karen Mansfield 4 min read

Fans are celebrating after the Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a playoff spot on Sunday.

Entering week 16, the Steelers had a 7% chance of making the playoffs. But they’re in, thanks to a three-game win streak that included a win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, and a little help from the Tennessee Titans and head coach/former Steelers linebacker Mike Vrabel, a former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, who defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon.

Primanti Brothers celebrated the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers by sending their Almost Famous sandwiches to feed the entire Titans team as a thank-you for securing the Steelers a spot in the postseason by beating the Jaguars.

“We all need a little help from our friends,” said Adam Golomb, Primanti Bros. CEO. “And we’ve got a soft spot for Vrabel and his squad in Tennessee – unless we’re meeting them on the field. But (on Sunday) the Titans were our friends.”

The Steelers face the No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills in Buffalo on Sunday, and Steelers fans are excited the Black and Gold is in the tournament.

Chris Davis Jr. of Canonsburg, a self-described die-hard Steelers fan, watched Saturday’s Steelers game and Sunday’s Titans-Jaguars game with his family, and said they were “super excited, jumping up and down” when the Titans knocked off the Jaguars.

“I kind of felt it would all work out and that we’d make the playoffs,” he said.

Davis, like plenty of fans, thinks the Steelers can beat the Bills and have a shot at winning a seventh Super Bowl title.

“I think we can make a run. I think we have a great chance,” said Davis. “We have a solid offensive line and running game right now, I think Mason Rudolph and the defense are playing well, and Coach Tomlin is a great coach,” said Davis.

Davis, a Canon-McMillan graduate and a sophomore defensive back with the Drake University (Iowa) Bulldogs – which earned their first FCS playoff berth this year – will watch the Steelers-Bills game from his dorm room.

“I believe we can win it,” he said.

Fredericktown resident Jerrod Moschetta also watched the Titans-Jags game intently.

“I was watching the Tennessee game as a Titans fan for the first time in my life,” said Moschetta. “I’m glad we’re in it.”

He likes the Steelers’ chances against the Bills, even though they are 9-point underdogs.

“I think we have a very good chance. Unfortunately, T.J. Watt is out,” said Moschetta, referring to the Steelers defensive MVP candidate who will miss the game with a grade 2 MCL sprain. “The quarterback change to Mason Rudolph really helped the offense and has inspired the team. Hopefully, we can pull it off in Buffalo.”

Tim Tidwell, who works in Houston, likes Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, but believes the Steelers should stick with Rudolph in the playoffs.

“I’m a Kenny Pickett fan, but Rudolph has done a good job,” said Tidwell, who took his children to their first Pittsburgh Steelers game two months ago.

Tidwell admires head coach Mike Tomlin, but he doesn’t like the Steelers chances against the Bills.

“I don’t give them a great chance. The Bills are a little better team. Mike Tomlin is a fantastic coach, so it won’t be a blowout. If the Steelers can keep it close heading into the fourth quarter, it’s anyone’s game. If they can keep it within one score going into the fourth, I think they can win it.”