Week 13 Rooting Guide: Who Steelers fans should be pulling for Sunday

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-5, have won back-to-back games, and are in a situation where they can prove their worth to themselves, their fan base and the NFL world with a win over the 8-3 New York Giants at Heinz Field in Week 13.

Clearly everyone who claims to have black and gold running through their veins will be rooting for the Steelers, but what about all the other AFC teams who are in action this week. Who should you be rooting for?

We break it down in this easy-to-read format below:

Miami Dolphins at
Baltimore Ravens (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Who you should root for: Miami
Why: If I have to explain this then you must not pay close attention to the site and to the AFC North division, but this game is a big one for the Steelers faithful. Although the Dolphins are currently in the 6th seed in the playoff picture, Pittsburgh shouldn’t be worried about a Wild Card spot, but the division, and the need Baltimore to lose as many games as possible. The Dolphins are a red-hot team, but going into Baltimore will be no easy task. Hopefully Adam Gase and company are up for the task, because all of Steelers Nation will be rooting for the ‘phins today.

Houston Texans at
Green Bay Packers (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Who you should root for: Green Bay
Why: There are people who think the AFC North is the worst division in the conference. Well, they must not look at the AFC South much. Regardless, with the Steelers hopes of making the playoffs still very much surrounding the division title, they will want the highest seed possible in the playoffs. For that to happen, they not only need to keep winning, but they need the Texans, and the Indianapolis Colts, to continue to lose so the winner of the AFC North will be the No. 3 seed in the playoff picture.

Buffalo Bills at
Oakland Raiders (4:05 p.m. EDT)

Who you should root for: Oakland
Why: The 9-2 Raiders are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, and the Buffalo Bills keep hanging around the AFC Playoff Picture. With an identical record as the Steelers, 6-5, Buffalo’s playoffs hopes remain locked on the Wild Card spot, and a loss followed by a meeting with the Steelers in Week 14 could all but doom their postseason hopes. One less team hanging around isn’t a bad thing.

Denver Broncos at
Jacksonville Jaguars (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Who you should root for: Jacksonville
Why: I know what you are thinking, there is no chance the Jaguars beat the 7-4 Broncos, even at home. The odds aren’t good this happens, but Denver will be without their starting quarterback, and a loss combined with a Steelers win would even their records at 7-5. If the Steelers’ path to the playoffs somehow involved the Wild Card, then the Broncos losing could help the black and gold.

Kansas City Chiefs at
Atlanta Falcons (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Who you should root for: Atlanta
Why: Simple. The more teams ahead of the Steelers lose, the better the odds they are able to make the playoffs. The Chiefs are 8-3, and could use a reality check. Atlanta could be just the team to deliver said reality check.