The Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff seeding fate now rests in the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers following a devastating loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.
The Steelers drop to 10-7 on the season and, for now, the No. 6 seed in the AFC. If the current No. 5 seed, the 10-6 Chargers, win in Week 18 against the Raiders, Pittsburgh will travel to Baltimore in the first round of the playoffs to play the No. 3 seed Ravens.
A Chargers loss or tie, and the Steelers can reclaim the No. 5 seed. That would result in Pittsburgh taking on the No. 4 seed Texans in Houston in the first round of the playoffs.
With the Bengals’ win, the Steelers’ AFC North rival remains in the playoff hunt with the conference’s No. 7 seed still up for grabs. The Week 18 scenarios for the final playoff spot are as follows:
If Denver wins or ties against the Chiefs, the Broncos clinch a playoff spot.
A Denver loss to the Chiefs and a Dolphins win over the Jets means Miami makes the playoffs.
If Denver loses and Miami loses or ties, then Cincinnati gets into the postseason.
The winner of that No. 7 seed will travel to No. 2 seed Buffalo in the first round of the playoffs.
The current AFC standings are listed below. Teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today are marked with an asterisk. Pittsburgh has already recorded wins over the current Nos. 5 and 7 teams, and split the series with the current Nos. 3 and 8 seeds.
AFC standings during Week 17
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)* — clinched No. 1 seed, first round bye
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)* — clinched No. 2 seed
3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)* — clinched No. 3 seed
4. Houston Texans (9-7)* — clinched No. 4 seed
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)*
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)*
8. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
9. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
10. Indianapolis Colts (7-9) — eliminated
11. New York Jets (4-12) — eliminated
12. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12) — eliminated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) — eliminated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-13) — eliminated
15. New England Patriots (3-13) — eliminated
16. Cleveland Browns (3-14) — eliminated
Steelers odds per FanDuel
To win the AFC Championship: +2700
To win the Super Bowl: +6500 (+4000 ahead of Week 18)
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