How the Steelers Can Still Clinch AFC North
The Pittsburgh Steelers blew their first chance to clinch the AFC North this season, when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. They didn’t do themselves any favors with another loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday.
But the Steelers can still win the division, even though they currently trail the Ravens by one game entering the final week of the 2024 regular season.
Here’s how:
In order to win the AFC North, the Steelers need to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in their final home game next week, and have the Baltimore Ravens lose at home to the Cleveland Browns.
The schedule for Week 18 has not been made, but with the division hanging in the balance of the two games, the NFL will likely schedule them to be played at the same time, so that neither the Steelers nor the Ravens get the advantage of knowing the other result beforehand.
Ties in either game don’t help the Steelers. A tie is as good as a win for the Ravens, and a tie is just as bad as a loss for the Steelers.
The Ravens will be significant favorites to beat the Browns at home, as Cleveland has been eliminated from playoff contention for weeks, but the Browns do already have one win over the Ravens this season, a 29-24 victory in Cleveland on Oct. 27.
The Bengals may or may not still be in the playoff hunt when they visit the Steeles. They will need to beat the Denver Broncos on Saturday in order to stay alive.
STEELERS IN AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. Kansas City Chiefs 15-1
2. Buffalo Bills 12-3
3. Baltimore Ravens 11-5
4. Houston Texans 9-7
–
5. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6
6. Los Angeles Chargers 9-6
7. Denver Broncos 9-6
~
8. Indianapolis Colts 7-8
9. Miami Dolphins 7-8
10. Cincinnati Bengals 7-8
~
11. New York Jets 4-10
12. Cleveland Browns 3-11
13. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-11
14. Tennessee Titans 3-11
15. New England Patriots 3-11
16. Las Vegas Raiders 2-12
AFC NORTH STANDINGS
| Overall | AFC North | AFC | Head-to-head | |
| Ravens | 11-5 | 3-2 | 7-4 | CIN 2-0, CLE 0-1, PIT 1-1 |
| Steelers | 10-6 | 3-2 | 7-4 | BAL 1-1, CIN 1-0, CLE 1-1 |
| Bengals | 7-8 | 2-3 | 4-6 | BAL 0-2, CLE 2-0, PIT 0-1 |
| Browns | 3-12 | 2-3 | 3-7 | BAL 1-0, CIN, 0-2, PIT 1-1 |