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How hot is Mike Tomlin's seat: 1. Cold seat

A changing of the guard is coming in Pittsburgh, but Tomlin is staying put. Ben Roethlisberger will likely be making his exit after 18 campaigns at the conclusion of this season, and general manager Kevin Colbert could follow suit if he opts not to pick up another season on his year-to-year deal. But Tomlin signed a three-year extension in April. Though inconsistent at times, the Steelers are 7-6-1 and still in contention to win the AFC North with three weeks left -- and that is a testament to Tomlin's coaching ability. His messaging hasn't always gotten through to his team before the game, but something is happening at halftime that has helped Pittsburgh to second-half surges. That something is Mike Tomlin. -- Brooke Pryor

"I think we still have a pulse in this thing." Ben Roethlisberger's postgame comments seemed to bolster our theory that the Steelers are a zombie that doesn't know it's dead yet. Mike Tomlin's team continues to lumber mindlessly through the NFL landscape. These Steelers crash through barricaded doors, feast on the occasional arm, tumble down the unexpected hillside -- only to get back up in their eternal quest for ... not brains, but an unlikely playoff bid. Pittsburgh beat Tennessee thanks to a defense that forced three turnovers in the span of 10 plays and a kicker who converted four of his five field-goal attempts in a 19-13 win. There's nothing pretty about the undead, but they demand to be taken seriously.

They kept their playoff hopes alive by beating the Titans. They face an enormous game this week against the Chiefs in Kansas City.

The good news? They're a half-game out of the playoff picture. The bad news? They head to Kansas City having surrendered an average of 39.3 points over their past three road games.

Our gift to you: Some final magic for Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers just won a game in which they produced 168 yards of total offense, their lowest output since the regular-season finale against the Ravens in 2019. Roethlisberger threw for 148 yards, his lowest in a full game since 2012. It was ugly. It was painful. But it kept the Steelers alive in the playoff race as they prepare for Sunday's matchup with the Chiefs. Do you believe in Christmas miracles? Big Ben outduels Mahomes to push Pittsburgh to the doorstep of the playoffs.