AFC Playoff Picture: Where the Steelers reside heading into Week 17

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2020 season is 15 games old, and they sit at 12-3 heading into a Week 17 matchup with the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, in Cleveland. With only one game remaining, we take a look at the AFC Playoff Picture, and what might need to take place for the black-and-gold to not just get into the postseason, they have already clinched a playoff spot, but which seed they will be heading into the postseason.

After breaking their three-game losing streak, the Steelers no longer are the top seed in the NFL, but they have lost the 2nd spot with the red-hot Buffalo Bills taking over that spot. Will they be able to move up? Or will the be relegated to the No. 3 seed?

Let’s take a look at where things sit heading into Week 17:

AFC Playoff Picture — Week 17

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) *+= REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. LAC
2. Buffalo Bills (12-3)*+ REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. MIA
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3)*+ REMAINING OPPONENTS: @CLE
4. Tennessee Titans (10-5) REMAINING OPPONENTS: @HOU
5. Miami Dolphins (10-5) REMAINING OPPONENTS: @BUF
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-5) REMAINING OPPONENTS: @CIN
7. Cleveland Browns (10-5) REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. PIT

In the hunt:
8. Indianapolis Colts (10-5) REMAINING OPPONENTS: vs. JAX

* - Clinched Division
+ - Clinched Playoff Berth
= - Clinched Playoff Seed

The AFC Playoff Picture is one thing, but scenarios are another. What needs for the rest of the AFC teams who are hoping to make the playoffs, to clinch a playoff berth? See below:

Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:

1. BAL win OR
2. CLE loss OR
3. IND loss OR
4. BAL tie + MIA loss OR
5. BAL tie + TEN loss OR
6. BAL tie + CLE tie OR
7. BAL tie + IND tie

Cleveland clinches playoff berth with:

1. CLE win OR
2. IND loss OR
3. TEN loss + MIA win or tie + BAL win or tie OR
4. CLE tie + BAL loss OR
5. CLE tie + MIA loss OR
6. CLE tie + TEN loss OR
7. CLE tie + IND tie OR
8. CLE tie + TEN tie + BAL win + MIA win

Indianapolis clinches AFC South division title with:

1. IND win + TEN loss or tie OR
2. IND tie + TEN loss

Indianapolis clinches playoff berth with:

1. IND win + BAL loss or tie OR
2. IND win + CLE loss or tie OR
3. IND win + MIA loss or tie OR
4. IND tie + BAL loss OR
5. IND tie + CLE loss OR
6. IND tie + MIA loss

Miami clinches playoff berth with:

1. MIA win OR
2. BAL loss OR
3. CLE loss OR
4. IND loss OR
5. MIA tie + BAL tie OR
6. MIA tie + CLE tie OR
7. MIA tie + IND tie OR
8. MIA tie + TEN loss

Tennessee clinches AFC South division title with:

1. TEN win OR
2. IND loss OR
3. TEN tie + IND tie

Tennessee clinches playoff berth with:

1. BAL loss OR
2. MIA loss OR
3. TEN tie + CLE loss OR
4. TEN tie + MIA tie OR
5. TEN tie + BAL tie

What do you think will go down on Sunday in Cleveland, as well as in games which could impact the AFC Playoff seedings? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!