A rematch of final season’s AFC Divisional Spherical sport is on the Christmas Day slate in Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season, with the Houston Texans enjoying host to the Baltimore Ravens.
Oh, and there can be a Beyoncé efficiency at halftime, so there may be that too.
Whereas each the Ravens and the Texans have clinched playoff spots — and Houston the AFC South — there are postseason implications on the road on this sport. Let’s break them down.
Ravens playoff image
Baltimore enters Week 17 with a 10-5 report, tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the high of the AFC North. Nevertheless, the Steelers presently have the benefit attributable to tiebreakers. The 2 groups cut up their season sequence, however Pittsburgh holds the sting within the subsequent tiebreaker, AFC report.
In the meanwhile the Steelers have a 7-3 report within the convention, whereas the Ravens have a 6-4 report.
Nonetheless, Baltimore has an opportunity to win the division in the event that they win their remaining two video games — Wednesday at Houston after which within the season finale towards the Cleveland Browns — and the Steelers lose no less than one in every of their remaining two video games. Pittsburgh hosts the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Christmas Day, after which they tackle the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.
Texans playoff image
As for Houston, they’ve already clinched a playoff spot, and the AFC South.
What stays to be determined for the Texans is their seed within the postseason. In the meanwhile their 9-6 report has them within the fourth spot, one behind 10-5 Pittsburgh.
Houston is locked into both the third seed, or the fourth seed. They can not catch both Kansas Metropolis or Buffalo for the highest two spots within the convention. However they’ll end third, supplied they win out and each Baltimore and Pittsburgh lose their remaining two video games. That might put Houston on 11-6 for the season, whereas on this state of affairs each the Ravens and the Steelers end with matching 10-7 information.
Pittsburgh would win the division, due to the tiebreakers outlined above.
Nevertheless, there are additionally another tiebreakers to contemplate.
Tiebreaker implications
There’s a state of affairs the place Wednesday’s sport between the Ravens and the Texans helps determine who’s the No. 3 seed, and who’s the No. 4 seed.
If the Texans win out, they’ll end at 11-6. Then if Baltimore wins of their season finale — and on this state of affairs the Steelers lose their remaining two video games — the Ravens too would end at 11-6.
However with Houston beating Baltimore on Christmas Day, the Texans could be the No. 3 seed, and the Ravens the No. 4 seed.