AFC Playoff Picture: Pittsburgh Steelers playoff hopes alive and well

After the Oakland Raiders defeated the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, Week 11 of NFL action was officially over. Week 12 begins on Thursday, Thanksgiving day, with a slate of three games, all of which are extremely important to the playoff picture in both the AFC and NFC.

However, let’s be honest, here at BTSC the focus is on the AFC, but more importantly the Pittsburgh Steelers hopes of making the 2016 postseason. After defeating the hapless Cleveland Browns, the Steelers’ chances of making the postseason certainly are still alive and well at 5-5, but just like in Week 10, it looks as if their route to the playoffs is a one-way street. That street would be winning the AFC North.

The Steelers remaining schedule isn’t particularly daunting, but then again they have struggled against sub-par competition, especially on the road, in recent years. Time to take a look at the current AFC Playoff Picture, as well as each team’s remaining games.

AFC Playoff Picture - Week 11

1. Oakland Raiders - 8-2 - Remaining Games: vs. Panthers (4-6), vs. Bills (5-5), at Chiefs (7-3), at Chargers (4-6), vs. Colts (5-5), at Broncos (7-3)
2. New England Patriots - 8-2 - Remaining Games: at Jets (3-7), vs. Rams (4-6), vs. Ravens (5-5), at Broncos (7-3), vs. Jets (3-7), at Dolphins (6-4)

3. Houston Texans - 6-4 - Remaining Games: vs. Chargers (4-6), at Packers (4-6), at Colts (5-5), vs. Jaguars (2-8), vs. Bengals (3-6-1), at Titans (5-6)
6. Denver Broncos - 7-3 - Remaining Games: vs. Chiefs (7-3), at Jaguars (2-8), at Titans (5-6), vs. Patriots (8-2), at Chiefs (7-3), vs. Raiders (8-2)

4. Baltimore Ravens - 5-5 - Remaining Games: vs. Bengals (3-6-1), vs. Dolphins (6-4), at Patriots (8-2), vs. Eagles (5-5), at Steelers (5-5), at Bengals (3-6-1)
5. Kansas City Chiefs - 7-3 - Remaining Games: at Broncos (7-3), at Falcons (6-4), vs. Raiders (8-2), vs. Titans (5-6), vs. Broncos (7-3), at Chargers (4-6)

In the hunt:
7. Miami Dolphins - 6-4 - Remaining Games: vs. 49ers (1-9), at Ravens (5-5), vs. Cardinals (4-5-1), at Jets (3-7), at Bills (5-5), vs. Patriots (8-2)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers - 5-5 - Remaining Games: at Colts (5-5), vs. Giants (7-3), at Bills (5-5), at Bengals (3-6-1), vs. Ravens (5-5), vs. Browns (0-11)
9. Indianapolis Colts - 5-5 - Remaining Games: vs. Steelers (5-5), at Jets (3-7), vs. Texans (6-4), at Vikings (6-4), at Raiders (8-2), vs. Jaguars (2-8)
10. Buffalo Bills - 5-5 - Remaining Games: vs. Jaguars (2-8), at Raiders (8-2), vs. Steelers (5-5), vs. Browns (0-11), vs. Dolphins (6-4), at Jets (3-7)