:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65955259/497131702.jpg.0.jpg)
The AFC playoff picture is shaping up as far as the Steelers are concerned. With the 2019 season winding down, the Steelers can only be the sixth seed. The good news is that the team controls their own destiny. However, they have two challenging road games and a make-shift offense. So, the Steelers may be in a position in which they need help.
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. Once again, the Steelers need to win for this wish list to be viable.
If the season ended today, the Steelers would be the sixth seed in the AFC, but there are plenty of teams to root for in other action.
Here are the current AFC playoff standings.
- Baltimore Ravens 12-2 (Would win AFC North and earn a First Round Bye)
- New England Patriots 12-3 (Would win AFC East and earn a First Round Bye)
- Kansas City Chiefs 10-4 (Would win AFC West and host Wild Card Pittsburgh)
- Houston Texans 10-5 (Would win AFC South and host Buffalo;)
- Buffalo Bills 10-5 (Would earn Wild Card and travel to Houston)
- Pittsburgh Steelers 8-6 (Would earn Wild Card and travel to Kansas City)
- Tennessee Titans 8-6
- Cleveland Browns 6-8
- Oakland Raiders 6-8
- xIndianapolis Colts 6-8
- xJacksonville Jaguars 5-9
- xDenver Broncos 5-9
- xLos Angeles Chargers 5-9
- xNew York Jets 5-9
- xMiami Dolphins 3-11
- xCincinnati Bengals 1-13
(X) eliminated
New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans - Sunday 1:00 PM, FOX
The Titans basically are the Steelers chief rivals for the sixth seed. Technically, a loss for Tennessee next week against Houston is more important to the Steelers cause, but they still need to suffer a loss this week.
Who to root for: New Orleans Saints
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns - Sunday 1:00 PM, CBS
No, I haven’t lost my mind. The Ravens have already won the division, they might as well win the number one seed and have nothing to play for in Week 17 against the Steelers. Plus, the Browns having any form of bragging rats would be annoying.
Who to root for: Baltimore Ravens
Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears - Sunday 8:20 PM, NBC
The Chiefs are surging again and I’d rather see them lose to get them to possibly drop to the fourth seed.
Who to root for: Chicago Bears
Other AFC Games in Week 16:
Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins - Sunday 1:00 PM, CBS
Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts - Sunday 1:00 PM, FOX
Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers - Sunday 4:05 PM, CBS
Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos - Sunday 4:05 PM, CBS