Pittsburgh Steelers entering the toughest phase of 2024 yet

Since arriving in Pittsburgh as a fourth-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft, Moore hasn't experienced a season where the Steelers weren't careening toward a white-knuckle finish as they still hunted for a playoff berth in the final weekend of the regular season.

Until this year.

Not only is an unofficial Pennsylvania State Championship on the line Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox), but the Steelers can lock up a playoff spot with a win or tie against the Eagles or losses or ties by the Miami Dolphins, who play the Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts, who play the Denver Broncos.

In addition to bragging rights and playoff security, the trip to Philadelphia will usher in the start of a high-stakes, 11-day gauntlet against three of the league's best in a preview of what could await them in the postseason.

"Our destiny's in our hands, and that's for the first time since I've been here," Moore said. "I mean you look at the two years that we made the playoffs, we needed other teams to win. Now we're in a situation where we could be playing for a first round bye."

The Steelers' last two playoff appearances weren't secured until Week 18, one of them not even finalized until the conclusion of an overtime "Sunday Night Football" game in 2021. The last time the Steelers' playoff fate was determined before the last week of the regular season came in 2020, when the Dolphins lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14. That year, the Steelers got off to a hot start, going 11-0. But they faltered down the stretch and lost four of their final five games before a first-round exit in a home wild-card loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Though that late-season skid happened months before Moore was drafted by the Steelers, it still serves as a cautionary tale as the Steelers enter their final month of the season.

"I have actually been thinking about that a lot over the past couple of weeks because seasons can always change," Moore said. "Just like you start off hot, you can always finish crappy at the back half of the season. We know that this is the most important time of the year, December football, so this is what's going to make or break our playoff hopes."

With one December win notched, the Steelers now face the herculean make-or-break test of maneuvering an obstacle course stacked with perennial playoff teams and MVP candidates.

The Eagles have already clinched a playoff spot and could win the NFC East title on Sunday. Winners of their ninth straight AFC West title, the Chiefs have also already secured their spot in the playoffs. The Baltimore Ravens, who the Steelers face six days after playing in Philadelphia, haven't officially earned their spot in the postseason. They're part of a two-team race with the Steelers for the AFC North crown though Baltimore is two games behind in divisional standings.

"Obviously three playoff teams we're going to play, and obviously some high level pressure moments," tight end Pat Freiermuth said Wednesday. "We know the task ahead of us. But we're just focused on Philadelphia and trying to get a win in Philly."