The Pittsburgh Steelers have already punched their ticket to the NFL Playoffs.
However they’ve larger desires than only a spot within the dance.
Mike Tomlin and firm had an opportunity to clinch the AFC North in Week 16, however their loss to the Baltimore Ravens not solely noticed their rivals clinch a playoff spot of their very own, however it additionally saved Baltimore’s possibilities of profitable the AFC North alive.
Now each groups are again in motion on Christmas Day — with the Steelers internet hosting the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Ravens touring to Houston to tackle the Texans — and the AFC North continues to be unsure.
Here’s what Wednesday’s sport means for the Steelers and their division title aspirations.
Steelers AFC North division title clinching eventualities
The Steelers had an opportunity to clinch the AFC North title final week once they took on the Ravens, however Baltimore’s win in Week 16 denied Pittsburgh their probability at locking up the division.
Now, each the Steelers and the Ravens sit at 10-5 on the season. Which means that with two video games remaining for each groups, neither group can clinch a division title on Christmas Day.
If each Pittsburgh and Baltimore win their ultimate two video games, they’d end with matching 12-5 data. Pittsburgh would win the division on this situation, due to the AFC report tiebreaker. With the 2 AFC North groups having break up their season collection, Pittsburgh would end with a greater report within the convention, 9-3 in comparison with 8-4.
(Baltimore’s early-season loss to the Las Vegas Raiders looms giant on this situation).
Due to this tiebreaker benefit, the Steelers nonetheless have an edge within the battle for the AFC North. Nonetheless, the Ravens have the marginally simpler schedule. Whereas Baltimore takes on the 9-6 Texans on Christmas Day, they end the season towards the lowly Cleveland Browns.
In the meantime the Steelers play host to the 14-1 Chiefs — who can lock up the highest spot within the convention with a win Wednesday — after which the 7-8 Cincinnati Bengals, who’re preventing for his or her playoff lives.
AFC standings coming into Week 17
1. y-Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (14-1)
2. y-Buffalo Payments (12-3)
3. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5, 7-3 AFC)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-6)
5. x-Baltimore Ravens (10-5, 6-4 AFC)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wins over DEN)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-6, losses to LA)*
8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8, 6-5 AFC, win over MIA)*
9. Miami Dolphins (7-8, 5-5 AFC, loss to IND)*
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8, 4-6 AFC)*
11. New York Jets (4-11) — eradicated
12. Cleveland Browns (3-12, 3-7 AFC. win over JAX) — eradicated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12, win over TEN, 3-7 AFC, loss to CLE) — eradicated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-12, 3-7 AFC) — eradicated
15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12, 3-8) — eradicated
16. New England Patriots (3-12, 2-8) — eradicated
Groups with an asterisk (*) have been eradicated from divisional rivalry
Groups with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Groups with a (y) have clinched their division
