Steelers pin playoff spot

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer • December 16, 2024

The Steelers clinched a playoff birth on Sunday despite losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. They look ahead to games against the Ravens, Chiefs and Bengals. By Andy – originally posted to Flickr as HERE WE GO STEELERS!, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6377404

Despite an unfortunate loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the Steelers have one thing to celebrate.

Due to losses sustained by the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts, the Steelers have officially punched their ticket to the 2024 NFL playoffs.

This is the 11th time under Coach Mike Tomlin that the Steelers have earned a playoff spot.

Mike Tomlin has led them to seven AFC North titles, three AFC Championship games, and twice led them to a Super Bowl appearance, including winning Super Bowl XLIII.

The Steelers, currently led by Russel Wilson, TJ Watt, and George Pickens, enter a playoff picture that has already been filled with some of the NFL’s most elite teams.

Other teams who have clinched spots in the NFL playoffs include the Buffalo Bills, the Detroit Lions, the Houston Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

As for the teams still in contention, the hunt features notable names such as the Baltimore Ravens, the Denver Broncos, the Green Bay Packers, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Washington Commanders.

Currently standing on top of the AFC North with a 10-4 record and ranked seventh in the NFL gives them an advantage over their opponents.

Questions have been thrown the way of Pittsburgh on if they can keep that #1 spot in the AFC North with a rough schedule ahead.

It’s a challenging road ahead for the Steelers as they meet the defending Superbowl Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs for a Christmas Day showdown, alongside games against division rivals the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

Despite the uncertainty that lies ahead, one thing is clear: the Steelers have demonstrated resilience and proven their skeptics wrong.

The Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016, a drought Pittsburgh will surely look to end when the playoffs begin a month from now.

With their storied history of playoff success and a roster infused with young talent and seasoned veterans, the Steelers are looking to make a statement in this year’s playoffs.

There are a lot of unknowns for the Steelers heading into the 2024 NFL playoffs, but it’s safe to say the they have proved their doubters wrong.

Now the burning question on everybody’s mind is, Will the Steelers go the distance?

About the Contributor

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer

And that’s another Bethel Park Black Hawks win for the boys soccer team. Whether Patrick is on the soccer field or behind the keyboard, he’s always aiming to make an impact—one play and one story at a time. This year, Patrick Romito, an 11th grader, joins Scholastic Publications for the first time. When asked why he decided to sign up, Patrick said, “I took the class to get more involved in school activities.” With a clear passion for making the most of his high school experience, Patrick is eager to contribute to the class by writing articles for the Hawk Eye newspaper. He’s ready to take on whatever stories come his way, whether spotlight features, sports, or school news. Patrick is not just a writer; he’s also an accomplished athlete. With 12 years of soccer experience under his belt and as a three-year DECA member, he balances both extracurriculars and academics with ease. As someone who enjoys variety, he’s equally open to different kinds of stories, saying, “I enjoy writing in general, so whether it’s spotlights, sports, or school news-related content, it doesn’t matter to me.” Looking ahead, Patrick’s plans after high school include studying marketing and advertising, although he’s still deciding on a specific college. In the meantime, his favorite class is Law & You with Mr. Vic. He appreciates how the course prepares him for life after high school, and he enjoys Mr. Vic’s real-life stories that make each lesson engaging. Reflecting on his time in high school, Patrick recalls the excitement of attending football games as a freshman, where he formed friendships that have lasted throughout his high school years. “I really enjoyed going to the football games freshman year because I ended up making a lot of friends there, a lot of which I’m still friends with today,” he said. Outside of school, Patrick has worked as a lifeguard at Highpoint Fitness for almost two years, a job that highlights his dedication and work ethic. When he’s not working or playing soccer, he enjoys comedy movies, with Step Brothers being his top pick. And what’s his dream vacation? Patrick hopes to one day visit Italy. “My dream vacation is Italy because first, it is very beautiful there, as well as my family roots going back to there,” he shared. In just three words, Patrick describes himself as calm, caring, and hardworking — qualities that are sure to serve him well both in and out of the classroom. Keep an eye out for Patrick’s contributions to Hawk Eye this year as he dives into the world of scholastic publications! Written by: Grace Ferency, Staff Writer