Playoff Picture: Steelers Control Destiny for No. 1 Seed in AFC

The Pittsburgh Steelers control their own destiny to become the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture after the Week 11 action on Sunday, including their win at home over the Baltimore Ravens.

The Steelers are currently the No. 3 seed behind the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, but that would change if the Steelers win out. The Steelers play the Chiefs on Christmas Day in Pittsburgh, meaning the Steelers would both make up the single-game advantage the Chiefs have right now and gain a tiebreaker between Pittsburgh and Kansas City.

The Bills will go through their bye week next week. If the Steelers beat the Browns, Pittsburgh will move ahead of Buffalo thanks to its better record against AFC teams, because one of the Steelers’ two losses was to the Dallas Cowboys.

If the Steelers, Bills and Chiefs all finish with two losses, the Steelers and Bills would advance in a three-way tiebreaker with head-to-head wins over the Chiefs. Pittsburgh has the tiebreaker with Buffalo with a better conference record, and the Steelers are not scheduled to play the Bills this season.

So if the Steelers find a way to run the table, however unlikely, they will be guaranteed the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff as a prize.

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

The Steelers are a half-game behind the Bills for the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture right now. If the playoffs started today, they would host the Ravens in the Wild Card round.

1. Kansas City Chiefs 9-1
2. Buffalo Bills 9-2
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 8-2
4. Houston Texans 6-4
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5. Los Angeles Chargers 7-3
6. Baltimore Ravens 7-4
7. Denver Broncos 6-5
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8. Indianapolis Colts 5-6
9. Miami Dolphins 4-6
10. Cincinnati Bengals 4-7
11. New York Jets 3-8
12. New England Patriots 3-8
13. Cleveland Browns 2-8
14. Tennessee Titans 2-8
15. Las Vegas Raiders 2-8
16. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-9

AFC NORTH STANDINGS