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We were all aware of the significance of winning vs. losing when the Steelers took the field against Carolina on Prime Time television. The Steelers were winners again, and with a lot of games remaining, the playoff contenders and pretenders are becoming more defined...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 8-1 (Would win AFC West and would earn them a First Round Bye)
- New England Patriots 7-2 (Would win AFC East and would earn them a First Round Bye)
- Pittsburgh Steelers 6-2-1 (Would win AFC North and host Wild Card Cincinnati)
- Houston Texans 6-3 (Would win AFC South and host Wild Card Los Angeles Chargers)
- Los Angeles Chargers 6-2 (Would earn Wild Card and travel to Houston)
- Cincinnati Bengals 5-3 (Would earn Wild Card and travel to Pittsburgh)
- Miami Dolphins 5-4
- Tennessee Titans 4-4
- Baltimore Ravens 4-5
- Jacksonville Jaguars 3-5
- Indianapolis Colts 3-5
- New York Jets 3-6
- Denver Broncos 3-6
- Cleveland Browns 2-6-1
- Buffalo Bills 2-7
- Oakland Raiders 1-7
Atlanta Falcons at Cleveland Browns - Sunday 1:00 PM
This game is of little to no consequence to the playoff chances of the Steelers. But the Browns are the Browns and we root against the Browns, no matter how sorry we feel for them.
Who to root for: Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints at Cincinnati Bengals - Sunday 1:00 PM
Who Dey think are gonna beat those Bengals? Hopefully Who Dat. My hatred for the Bengals eclipses my abhorrence of these idiotic catch phrases. Go Saints.
Who to root for: New Orleans Saints
Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs - Sunday 1:00 PM
KC isn’t winning out. But they are safe this week. For the Steelers sake, that stinks.
Who to root for: Arizona Cardinals
New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans - Sunday 1:00 PM
No Brainer. The Steelers need to vault past the Pats. A former Belichickean (Mike Vrabel) could do the trick against his former team.
Who to root for: Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts - Sunday 1:00 PM
This game probably doesn’t matter, but after last season...I want to make sure Jacksonville is golfing come January. Go Colts.
Who to root for: Indianapolis Colts
Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Raiders - Sunday 4:05 PM
The Chargers keep gaining momentum. Slowing that down would be good, I feel dirty, but “just win baby”.
Who to root for: Oakland Raiders
Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers - Sunday 4:25 PM
Would love to see Miami beat New England for the division crown. Would also love to fit into my size 38 jeans again. Neither are going to happen, but ‘Go Dolphins’ anyhow.
Who to root for: Miami Dolphins
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AFC Bye-Weekers: Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans
Other games featuring AFC teams:
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets - Sunday 1:00 PM