The Steelers have lost to three teams with a combined record of 10-23 and went to overtime with the 1-10 Kansas City Chiefs.

Pittsburgh coughed up the ball eight times on Sunday, while dropping to 2-4 on the road and 27th in turnover differential this season.

It’s unlikely the black and gold will walk out of Baltimore this weekend above .500.

Those are not typical qualities of a playoff team, but Pittsburgh still has a good chance to become one.

The mediocre AFC allows plentiful opportunity.

Just two weeks ago, a steady offense and stout defense paved the way to a four-game win streak and put the Steelers in position to challenge rival Baltimore for the AFC North crown.

It’s not improbable Pittsburgh regains that head of steam over the final month of the regular season.

The absence of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger predictably stunted the Steelers’ growth and the injury to backup Byron Leftwich compounded the problem.

Sunday’s loss against the lowly Cleveland Browns shouldn’t be a shocker considering Steelers coach Mike Tomlin preferred a clearly hobbled Leftwich over third-stringer Charlie Batch in Pittsburgh’s prior defeat to the Ravens.

With eight turnovers, a 1-of-9 conversion rate on third down and 242 yards of total offense, it was somewhat impressive the Steelers only lost by six points.

Despite the offensive ineptitude, Pittsburgh’s defense has remained stingy over the past two weeks, allowing 20 points or less in six straight games.

Roethlisberger’s injury has dominated the headlines, but receiver Antonio Brown has also been missed and future Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu is still on the sideline. If all three are contributing down the stretch, the Steelers are a far different team.

Rookie guard and first-round pick David DeCastro could make his NFL debut on Sunday, potentially supplying help to the rushing attack and additional security for whichever quarterback is dropping back to pass.

The return of Plaxico Burress should not be overlooked, either. Fresh off nearly two years in prison, the embattled receiver had 45 catches for 612 yards and eight touchdowns last year with the New York Jets — and Mark Sanchez isn’t the type of quarterback to make a receiver look better than they are.

At 6-foot-5, Burress provides a legitimate target in the red zone and could thrive upon the return of Roethlisberger, just one more reason the Steelers can close the season with an exclamation point.

Sitting at 6-5, the Pittsburgh’s most formidable competition for two wild-card spots is the Indianapolis Colts (7-4) and Cincinnati Bengals (6-5). The Dolphins appear worse than their 5-6 indicates, while the Titans, Jets, Bills and Chargers are all fatally flawed at 4-7.

If the Steelers can bounce back from their recent swoon, it seems likely Pittsburgh’s postseason fate will hinge on a Week 16 matchup against Cincinnati.

A trip to Heinz Field with playoffs on the line is a pressure-packed situation in which the Bengals often revert to the Bungles — and I expect Pittsburgh to pounce.

At times, it’s been an ugly season for the Steelers.

In the AFC, ugly is good enough for a postseason run.