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We’re all aware of the significance of winning vs. losing when the Steelers take the field against Cleveland. The Steelers were big winners last week without even playing. With still a lot of games remaining, the playoff contenders and pretenders aren’t set in stone..but contests will increase in importance by the week. Most of the time, Steelers fans know who to root for. But here’s a guide to significant matchups and whose losses the Steelers would benefit more from this weekend.
If the season ended today, the Steelers would be the third seed in the AFC, but there are plenty of teams to root for in other action. Here are the current AFC playoff standings.
- Kansas City Chiefs 6-1 (Would win AFC West and would earn them a First Round Bye)
- New England Patriots 5-2 (Would win AFC East and would earn them a First Round Bye)
- Pittsburgh Steelers 3-2-1 (Would win AFC North and host Wild Card Cincinnati)
- Houston Texans 4-3 (Would win AFC South and host Wild Card Los Angeles Chargers)
- Los Angeles Chargers 5-2 (Would earn Wild Card and travel to Houston)
- Cincinnati Bengals 4-3 (Would earn Wild Card and travel to Pittsburgh)
- Baltimore Ravens 4-3
- Miami Dolphins 4-3
- New York Jets 3-4
- Tennessee Titans 3-4
- Jacksonville Jaguars 3-4
- Denver Broncos 3-4
- Cleveland Browns 2-4-1
- Indianapolis Colts 2-5
- Buffalo Bills 2-5
- Oakland Raiders 1-5
Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars (London) - Sunday 9:30 AM
Jacksonville is struggling. But if they get healthy and should the running game get turned around, they could be dangerous. Fly Eagles...Fly.
Who to root for: Philadelphia
Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers - Sunday 1:00 PM
Baltimore is still the biggest threat to the Steelers in the division. So, of course, it’s got to be Carolina on my mind.
Who to root for: Carolina
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs - Sunday 1:00 PM
Wow, the Chiefs are ridiculously good. Denver is not a threat and the Broncos beating the Chiefs would slide the top seed closer to striking distance for the Steelers.
Who to root for: Denver
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals - Sunday 1:00 PM
Rooting for the Bengals is done only when totally necessary, There’s no necessity here. In fact, the decline of Who Dey would be awesome should it continue.
Who to root for: Tampa Bay
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills - Monday 8:15 PM
If this was 25 years ago, the Bills would be the big threat and the Patriots would be at the bottom of the conference. However, the Patriots are always a danger these days and a loss combined with a Steeler win would advance the Steelers up the conference ladder.
Who to root for: Buffalo
AFC Bye-Weekers: Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans
Other games featuring AFC teams:
New York Jets at Chicago Bears - Sunday 1 PM
Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders - Sunday 4:05 PM