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It might have taken longer than most would have liked, and it certainly was more dramatic that most would have liked, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are the AFC North champions after their huge victory over the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field in Week 16.
Although the AFC North will be sending only one team to the playoffs this season, there were other games going on in the division, some pretty big in their own way, and it’s time for us to check out just what went down outside of Heinz Field in Week 16.
Cleveland Browns - 20
San Diego Chargers - 17
They finally won a game. It’s hard to believe, but the Browns finally won a game. I have to be honest, when I saw San Diego and Pittsburgh as the Browns’ final two opponents I didn’t see a win there at all. But leave it to the softies from the West Coast to choke by the lake, allowing Browns fans one week of joy as they celebrate not being the Detroit Lions and going 0-16 for an NFL season.
Houston Texans - 12
Cincinnati Bengals - 10
This game was painful to watch. Not because of the physicality, but because it was just bad football. No A.J. Green, Vontaze Berfict or even Tyler Eifert for Cincinnati, and Tom Savage at quarterback for the Texans. Hold on to your hats folks, this one is gonna be good! (Sarcasm) It is fitting that the kicker Randy Bullock, formerly with the Steelers and signed because their previous kicker missed too many kicks, also missed the potential game-winner to hand the Bengals yet another loss. Such a very Cincinnati thing to do...
Pittsburgh Steelers - 31
Baltimore Ravens - 27
Speaking of Cincinnati, did anyone actually think they would do the Steelers ANY favors if Baltimore would have won the game in Week 16? The answer to that is a resounding ‘NO’. Marvin Lewis would have said all the right things, but the Bengals hate the Steelers more than any team in the NFL, including the Ravens. In other words, the Steelers had to have the Week 16 game, and that they did. Antonio Brown’s outstretched arm will forever live in the minds of Steelers fans as one of the greatest regular-season moments in Heinz Field history.
AFC North Standings
Pittsburgh Steelers - 10-5 *
Baltimore Ravens - 8-7
Cincinnati Bengals - 5-9-1
Cleveland Browns - 1-14
* clinched division title