When the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered their typical December swoon last year, it really hurt because the three consecutive losses they suffered over a 13-day period (December 3-16) came to the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.

The Cards and Patriots were both 2-10 at the time of the games. Both were played in Pittsburgh. The Colts were 7-6.

The Steelers lost those three games by a total of 34 points. They fell from 7-4 to 7-7 and were on the verge of playoff elimination.

The broader message was that these Steelers were so flawed that they could lose to anyone.

At this point they put Mason Rudolph at quarterback and you know the rest. Rudolph saved Christmas. The Steelers made the playoffs and at least the season wasn’t a total loss.

But this year it should be different. With the improvements on defense and quarterback with the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, the Steelers should have higher ambitions.

Like actually winning a playoff game for the first time since 2016.

This year’s December slog with three games in eleven days is also different. The contests take place against the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. These clubs are a combined 36-9. So far, the Steelers have lost the first two legs of this winter triathlon in Philadelphia and Baltimore by a combined score of 61-30.

If the Steelers lose Wednesday’s home game against the Chiefs in similar fashion, the message will be just as loud and clear: The Steelers are still just under. The Steelers are not ready for prime time. The Steelers are unable to keep up with the few big dogs left in the parity NFL.

“No one is here sulking,” offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said Thursday. “If anything, it should sharpen your focus.

“You don’t want to face adversity, but we’ve secured a spot in the playoffs. (We’re) trying to win the division, trying to win a game. It’s easy for everyone to be in a great mood and have everyone smiling when you win. But you will learn a lot about us from our reaction. We play against good teams, have a great matchup and a unique schedule. The ball kicks off at 1 o’clock (Wednesday) and we are ready to go.”

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From a players perspective, tight end Pat Friermuth insists the team will not be shaken by the results of the last two weeks.

“The last two weeks have been tough with the outcome of the game. But you learn a lot about yourself and the team,” said Freiermuth. “I feel like the guys are in a good headspace in the locker room right now. We have to work toward bigger things in the playoffs. But we understand what it takes to overcome this hurdle and compete against these teams towards the end of the year.”

At a team meeting before the loss in Philadelphia, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was caught by the “Hard Knocks” cameras telling his players how much he loved playing “against good people.” It’s a saying he’s often used before big games when speaking at his Tuesday press conferences.

The conclusion has always been that these types of games are a benchmark by which Tomlin can judge where his team stands in the NFL ecosystem, beyond the win-loss record.

Based on the results so far this year – with the two-time defending Super Bowl champions on the horizon – I’d say the results confirm what many of us were already thinking: The Steelers may be better than they’ve been in recent years, but they’re still not good enough to get into the playoffs.

Especially if they have to play on the go.

“We’re getting ready to win the game,” Tomlin said of the Christmas showdown with KC. “The wins and experiences increase, and of course those experiences are fruitful when you play against really good people. “We respect these guys and we understand that they are the standard, so we are working towards that to win this week. “

It was interesting to hear Tomlin use the word “standard” to describe everyone other than his own team. As clear as it is that KC is the standard (with three Super Bowl trophies since 2019), this was Tomlin’s surrogate phrase to describe his own expectations for his franchise based on its past championship success.

“The standard is the standard.”

Well, now someone else is the standard, and he’s coming to Pittsburgh for a Christmas visit. It appears that the Eagles, Ravens, Vikings, Lions and Bills are currently closer to that level than the Steelers.

The Steelers have a chance to change that view with a win on Wednesday. In the Tomlin era, the Steelers were often good at winning games like this.

At home. Underdogs after a few defeats. An independent national television play. Everyone gives up on them and says they aren’t worth the hype.

A win against the Chiefs on Wednesday wouldn’t be a Christmas miracle for the Steelers. But it would feel like a little divine intervention over the holidays to lift spirits after the last two weeks, so the fan base can at least believe the team belongs in the playoffs when they begin next month.

If not, uh, there’s always eggnog. Drink another glass and hope the Ravens lose in Houston while you eat Christmas dinner.

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Listen: Soren Petro from WHB Radio in KC joins Tim Benz for the Steelers-Chiefs preview