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How to Read this Chart

If any player name listed in the chart below is italicized, a team's grade will be expressed as a range instead of a single definite number. Italics indicate I have doubts about whether that player actually justifies inclusion within whatever category he's being associated with. Credible cases can be made for and against that player with respect to the criterion of the particular category where his name has been listed.
If a team's grade is expressed as a range, that range represents the worst-case scenario and best-case scenario. In the worst-case scenario, NO italicized player will be included in the scoring. In the best-case scenario, ALL italicized players will be included in the scoring.
Quarterbacks are evaluated either as a liability, adequate, or elite. The "adequate" label implies some measure of competence whereas the "liability" label implies that the quarterback is unable to play dropback football with any degree of competency.
Premiere Offensive Weapons are defined as high-performing skill players who add dimensionality on offense. The more ways a team can matriculate the ball downfield, the more names you will likely see listed here.
Elite Defensive Linemen are defined as truly dominant defensive linemen who can consistently control the line of scrimmage and consistently create havoc in the offensive backfield. Consistency of production is the main criteria used to evaluate pass rushers. Sacks, quarterback hits, tackles, batted passes, and turnovers are also considered here when assessing whether a given lineman can be considered elite.
Elite Coverage Defenders are defined as elite defensive backs or inside linebackers who excel at their particular role. Linebackers needs to show range in the flat, be able to cover flat receivers, and show up consistently in run support. Safeties need to show range and engineer turnover opportunities. Cornerbacks have to demonstrate an ability to shutdown most receivers that line up opposite them. It would also help if any of these coverage defenders have a knack for rushing the passer.
A successful comeback is defined as a game where a team mounted a scoring drive beginning in the fourth quarter to retake the lead and win the game OR a game where a team rallied back from a double-digit scoring deficit to eventually win the game.
Home field advantage is self-explanatory. In any postseason game between two teams from the same conference, the higher seed will always have home field advantage.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Passer Evaluation	Russell Wilson (Adequate)
Premiere Offensive Weapons 1 point for the first player 2 points for the second player 4 points for each successive player	Najee Harris / Jaylen Warren Pat Freiermuth Russell Wilson (Mobile QB)
Elite Defensive Linemen 4 points per player	T.J. Watt Cameron Hayward Alex Highsmith
Elite Coverage Defenders 2 points per player
Number of Successful Comebacks 2 points if the team successfully staged exactly 2 comebacks 3 points if the team staged more than 2 comebacks	1
Number of Comebacks Surrendered 2 points if the team surrendered exactly 2 comebacks 3 points if the team surrendered fewer than 2 comebacks	2
Tactical Edges Lost Only impacts a team's grade when that team is facing against another club listed here. The more teams listed here, the worse a team's odds of advancing	OffenseDefense Commanders Chiefs Commanders Chiefs
Tactical Edges Gained Only impacts a team's grade when that team is facing against another club listed here. The more teams listed here, the better a team's odds of advancing	OffenseDefense Chiefs Ravens Eagles Ravens Eagles
GRADE	6 - 21

The Steelers are a pathetic bunch on offense. I'm not sure why either. Arthur Smith was doing a bang-up job maximizing production from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields while working with limited weaponry. But lately, it seems Smith and the rest of the coaching staff has thrown in the towel on developing this offense. Their whole strategy is to dominate time of possession through the ground game while the defense chokes the life out of opposing offenses. The problem here is that the offense as a whole are nowhere near competent to pound the ball away over ground. More specifically, the offensive line struggles to exert control over the line of scrimmage. When your running game mostly relies on power and lead blocks, an average offensive line will not give you the steady yardage such a running game needs to be viable in the first place.

Some great pass rushers can only give you so much juice in the postseason, especially when you're traveling on the road. Pittsburgh is likely be booted in the first round, despite any tactical edge they might have over Baltimore having just faced them two weeks ago. Then again, if Baltimore lays an egg, we might see the Steelers play just *ugly *enough to advance here to the second round against a more complete Chiefs unit. Let their game against the Ravens be a good measuring stick for gauging the true value of tactical edges.

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