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We are all aware of the significance of winning vs. losing when the Steelers take the field at home against a top tier team like the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday in Prime Time. Of course, the Steelers need to win to continue to ascend towards the top of the AFC. With less games remaining, the playoff contenders and pretenders are becoming much more defined and a majority of the AFC teams games are of importance. 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 fourth 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 9-2 (Would win AFC West and would earn them a First Round Bye)
- New England Patriots 8-3 (Would win AFC East and would earn them a First Round Bye)
- Houston Texans 8-3 Would win AFC South and host Wild Card Baltimore)
- Pittsburgh Steelers 7-3-1 (Would win AFC North and host Wild Card Los Angeles Chargers)
- Los Angeles Chargers 8-3 (Would earn First Wild Card and travel to Pittsburgh)
- Baltimore Ravens 6-5 (Would earn Second Wild Card and travel to Houston)
- Indianapolis Colts 6-5
- Miami Dolphins 5-6
- Cincinnati Bengals 5-6
- Denver Broncos 5-6
- Tennessee Titans 5-6
- Cleveland Browns 4-6-1
- Buffalo Bills 4-7
- Jacksonville Jaguars 3-8
- New York Jets 3-8
- Oakland Raiders 2-9
...
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons - Sunday 1:00 PM
The Falcons have been snake-bitten, but the talent is still there. The Ravens and the newly-minted Lamar Jackson era need knocked back.
Who to root for: Atlanta
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals - Sunday 1:00 PM
Cincy is reeling. The Broncos are on fire and can bump this team further down the AFC rankings and put the Marvin Lewis era in peril. But a Cincy win here could halt Denver’s momentum.
Who to root for: Cincinnati
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars - Sunday 1:00 PM
The Colts are coming hard and they need to slow down. The Jags are down and (pretty much) out .
Who to root for: Jacksonville
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans - Sunday 1:00 PM
Can the hot Browns keep it going and slow the roll of red-hot Houston. I’d like to see that.
Who to root for: Cleveland
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders - Sunday 4:05 PM
The Steelers need to see the Chiefs lose, but I don’t see it happening against Gruden’s guys.
Who to root for: Oakland
Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots - Sunday 4:25 PM
The Pats are coming off of a win and look to be finding themselves again. A loss against a good Minnesota team could really help the Steeler cause.
Who to root for: Minnesota
Other less-significant AFC Games:
New York Jets at Tennessee Titans - Sunday 4:05 PM
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins - Sunday 1:00 PM