PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are out to prove they can lose to the worst teams in the NFL and still make the playoffs.

Their 20-13 upset loss to the New York Jets left the Steelers at 6-4. Tampa Bay and the Jets have combined for three victories, and two of them came at the expense of the Steelers.

There are 11 teams in the AFC with four losses or fewer.

Next up for the Steelers are the 2-7 Titans at Tennessee. Under the circumstances, that game would have to be considered a tossup. If the Steelers can lose at home to Tampa Bay and on the road to the Jets, they can lose to anyone.

Losing against lesser teams has become a habit for the Steelers since 2012, reasons they were 8-8 in each of the past two seasons. They can rise up to beat some of the better teams, such as the Colts and Ravens, but then hit the skids against the poor ones.

“If there was a pattern, I think we’d find a way to fix it,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger declared.

There actually is a pattern, and they have not found a way to fix it.

“You can’t hold your head down on anybody in this league, and that’s a clear test this past weekend,” guard Ramon Foster said. “And we chalk one up against Tampa the same type of way. We have to play better against teams we’re supposed to beat. That’s what we have to do, period.”

Meanwhile, although his streak of six-touchdown games ended at two, Roethlisberger joined five other quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for at least 3,000 yards in nine consecutive seasons. He has 3,063, the most by any Steelers quarterback after 10 games.

The others and their streaks over 3,000: Brett Favre (18), Peyton Manning (13), Dan Marino (9) and Drew Brees (10 through 2013 and 2,816 yards after nine games in 2014), Eli Manning (9 through 2013 and 2,214 yards after nine games in 2014).

–Wide receiver Antonio Brown stretched his streak to 26 consecutive games of at least five catches and 50 receiving yards, longest ever in the NFL. He also became the first Steelers receiver to top 1,000 yards in the first 10 games. He has 1,070. Also, he passed Lynn Swann (336) into fifth place with 340 receptions.

Notes: Running back Le’Veon Bell set a Steelers record for a running back with 55 pass receptions this season. John L. Williams held the record of 51 in 1994. . . . Safety Troy Polamalu missed his first game in two seasons. He has a sprained knee and might not be ready to play in the next game. . . . Linebacker James Harrison, 36, was inserted into the offensive backfield in the fourth quarter on first down at the Jets’ 1. It was the first time in his 12 years he played on offense. He blocked, and the Steelers did not score a touchdown.

REPORT CARD VS. JETS

–PASSING OFFENSE: D — Ben Roethlisberger threw for 343 yards and one touchdown. However, he also threw two killer interceptions and had only 54 yards in the first half (11 of 15), when the game was pretty much decided. This against a poor Jets secondary that had allowed 24 touchdowns, six more than any other NFL team. Roethlisberger finished with 343 yards passing and an 81.8 rating.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: F — They did not show much interest in running the ball, doing so only eight times in the first half and seven in the second. Le’Veon Bell had 36 yards on 11 carries. LeGarrette Blount ran backward to lose 8 yards on second down at the Jets 1 and finished with 0 yards on five carries. All in all, they ran 17 times for 36 yards and a 2.1-yard average with no touchdowns.

–PASS DEFENSE: D — Michael Vick had a modest 10 of 18 for 132 yards, but two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 116 passer rating. The Steelers did sack Vick four times, but three of those either were for no yards or minus-one when he ran back to the line of scrimmage. Cornerback William Gay dropped an interception in the end zone and the Jets followed with a field goal.

–RUSH DEFENSE: D-plus — The Jets ran 36 times for 150 yards, spread among five runners, including Vick’s 39 yards on eight carries. The one good thing the Steelers did was not allow a touchdown rushing.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: D — Shaun Suisham kicked a 53-yard field goal, the longest of his career, but also missed a 23-yarder, the shortest he’s ever missed. Antonio Brown fumbled a punt return and returned just two for 7 yards. Markus Wheaton made his debut as a kick returner and showed some promise with an average of 27.3 on three returns. The Jets had no returns of note.

–COACHING: F — The Steelers won the coin toss and instead of giving the ball to an offense that played at historic levels the previous two games, Mike Tomlin decided to defer. The Jets charged down field for a 3-0 lead on their first series and led 17-0 after one quarter. The Steelers also did not do what they have done best in the first half, when they threw short passes that went nowhere. Then, on first down at the Jets’ 1 in the second half, they inserted linebacker James Harrison for two downs in the backfield. They wound up getting a field goal on that series.