AFC Playoff Picture: Steelers stay put as the No. 2 seed heading into Week 12

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a come from behind win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11, and with the rest of the AFC wrapping up their games this week, it is time to put things in perspective as it relates to the AFC Playoff Picture.

Sure, there is still a lot of football left to be played, but at the same time it doesn’t hurt to look ahead and see just where every resides, and who they have coming up, to get a grip on the Conference Playoff scenarios.

After Pittsburgh’s horrid start to the season, they have rebounded to the tune of 6 straight wins and, thanks to some losses to other AFC competitors, and have catapulted themselves up into the No. 2 spot in the AFC Playoff Picture.

So, before we go any further, time to update the Playoff Picture heading into Week 12.

AFC Playoff Picture Week 12

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: at Raiders (2-8), vs. Ravens (5-5), vs. Chargers (7-3), at Seahawks (5-5), vs. Raiders (2-8)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2-1) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: at Broncos (4-6), vs. Chargers (7-3), at Raiders (2-8), vs. Patriots (7-3), at Saints (9-1), vs. Bengals (5-5)
3. New England Patriots (7-3) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: at Jets (3-7), vs. Vikings (5-4-1), at Dolphins (5-5), at Steelers (7-2-1), vs. Bills (3-7), vs. Jets (3-7)
4. Houston Texans (7-3) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. Titans (5-5), vs. Browns (3-6-1), vs. Colts (5-5), at Jets (3-7), at Eagles (4-6), vs. Jaguars (3-7)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. Cardinals (2-8), at Steelers (7-2-1), vs. Bengals (5-5), at Chiefs (9-1), vs. Ravens (5-5), at Broncos (4-6)
6. Baltimore Ravens (5-5) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. Raiders (2-8), at Falcons (4-6), at Chiefs (9-1), vs. Buccaneers (3-7), at Chargers (7-3), vs. Browns (3-6-1)
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In the hunt:

7. Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. Browns (3-6-1), vs. Broncos (4-6), at Chargers (7-3), vs. Raiders (2-8), at Browns (3-6-1), at Steelers (7-2-1)
8. Miami Dolphins (5-5) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: at Colts (5-5), vs. Bills (3-7), vs. Patriots (7-3), at Vikings (5-4-1), vs. Jaguars (3-7), at Bills (3-7)
9. Indianapolis Colts (5-5) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. Dolphins (5-5), at Jaguars (3-7), at Texans (7-3), vs. Cowboys (5-5), vs. Giants (3-7), at Titans (5-5)
10. Tennessee Titans (5-5) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: at Texans (7-3), vs. Jets (3-7), vs. Jaguars (3-7), at Giants (3-7), vs. Redskins (6-4), vs. Colts (5-5)
11. Denver Broncos (4-6) — REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. Steelers (7-2-1), at Bengals (5-5), at 49ers (2-8), vs. Browns (3-6-1), at Raiders (2-8), vs. Chargers (7-3)

There has been no change between in the Top 5 teams in the AFC, with a big jumbled mess all vying for the 6th, and final, spot in the playoff picture.

As for Pittsburgh, their remaining schedule is riddled with teams who are at, or near, the top of the playoff race. The Chargers, Bengals and Patriots will all come to Heinz Field in the coming weeks as the regular season winds down.

The fun is just beginning...

Take a look at the above standings, who do you see failing down the stretch? And which team will be a surprise to climb the rankings? Let us know in the comment section below!