3 games to watch in Week 17 which will impact the Steelers’ playoff chances

It all comes down to this. The entire 2019 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers rests on one final regular-season game. Unfortunately, it’s not their game alone which will determine their fate as the Steelers will also need some help. The simplest way to make the playoffs is to defeat the Baltimore Ravens and have one other game go their way. If not, it will take a multitude of games falling perfectly for the Steelers to play into January.

With only one game remaining in the regular season, the focus has turned to games of interest to Steelers’ fans due to their determination of the final spot remaining for the playoofs in the AFC. First and foremost, the Steelers’ game is the most important for them to have the best chance. But several other games around the AFC could come into play based on how everything comes together. So here are the other games which will help determine the Steelers’ postseason fate.

Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans

Sunday at 4:25 PM on CBS

This game is basically more important than the Steelers’ own game. If the Tennessee Titans defeat the Houston Texans, all other playoff talk is over because the Titans will get the final seed. But if the Titans fall in Houston, then it’s completely up to the Steelers as to how much further down the list other games matter. If the Steelers were to win along with a Titans loss, they would be in. But if the Steelers were to also fall to the Ravens, then it gets tricky with several other results as to who will be the final team in the playoffs representing the AFC.

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars

Sunday 4:25 PM on CBS

Even with no chance of making the postseason, the Indianapolis Colts are still a part of the playoff equation. If both the Steelers and Titans fall on Sunday, a Colts win would eliminate the Titans. How is this so? When a tiebreaker falls between three or more teams, any teams from the same division will be narrowed down to one based on divisional tiebreakers. Fortunately, the Indianapolis Colts have a better divisional record than the Tennessee Titans. While it’s not necessarily the Steelers who would be the final team to make the playoffs, having the Colts win does create a bit of a safety net in case things don’t go right on Sunday.

Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos

Sunday at 4:25 PM on CBS

Once again, this is one of those games that means absolutely nothing unless the first three all fall in line. If the Titans and Steelers both lose and the Colts win, the Raiders would find themselves in the six seed with a win as long as one of four games go their way in order to maintain the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Steelers. It’s a long shot to get to this point, but this game could factor into determining the final playoff position.

One game which could have been considered was the Los Angeles Chargers at the Kansas City Chiefs. This game is important more because if the Chiefs are victorious, the Texans have nothing to play for in Week 17 and may choose to rest players giving the Tennessee Titans a greater chance to win. Unfortunately, the NFL didn’t even see this game to be important enough in the playoff picture to move it to the same 4:25 PM kickoff as all the rest of the other key games.

So there are the three other NFL matchups which will give Steelers’ fans the answer as to if the Steelers will qualify for the 2019 postseason. While handling their own business is of the upmost importance, getting the needed help along the way is also necessary.

So which of these games this week will be the most telling as it pertains to the 2019 Pittsburgh Steelers playoff scenarios moving forward? Even though it’s obvious as to which game means the most, make sure you vote in the poll and give your thoughts in the comments below.