The title says it all.
What do the Steelers gain from an 8-8 Record?
Nothing.
They're eliminated from the Playoffs. There's no consolation prize for finishing 8-8 instead of 7-9. Nobody cares. when you don't make the Playoffs, your season is lost regardless of your record. At that point you should be playing for a better Draft Pick and that's what the Pittsburgh Steelers need to do against the Cleveland Browns next week.
Sit Ben Roethlisberger. Heath Miller is likely done for the season with an ACL/PCL. Sit Keenan Lewis, James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, Antonio Brown. sit anyone that has the slightest of injuries. The game isn't important. I understand that the Rooney's are paying these guys to play, but he'd be paying them to possibly give his Franchise a lower Draft Pick and that does nobody any good.
The Steelers need more talent. Get it through the draft. Better talent comes from picking higher and the Steelers have a chance with a 7-9 record to get as high of a Draft Pick as they've had since 2003. That';s right, the Steelers haven't finished below .500 since 2003 when they went 6-10. That season they draft Ben Roethlisberger, so you understand what sort of quality the Pittsburgh Steelers could get out of the draft finishing 7-9.
It's too early to tell what the Draft order is, but the Steelers would definitely Draft in the teens. There's definitely 10-11 teams worse than the Pittsburgh Steelers at this point. The Steelers could still get some quality. Better quality than getting a worthless win against the Cleveland Browns.