AFC North race after today’s results…

This was such a big win today for the Steelers as far as their chances now of winning the AFC North. Assuming they beat the Browns next week and get to 10-3 the Steelers could lose both the road games they have the following two weeks at Philly and at Baltimore the following week and if they win their last two games at home on Christmas against the Chiefs and the Bengals at home to close out the season they will win this division at 12-5. There is really no scenario now I can see after todays results with the Steelers winning in Cincy and the Ravens losing to the Eagles where the Ravens will win a tiebreaker and win the division over the Steelers if they both finish with the same record.

The Ravens pretty much need to go 4-0 their last 4 games and have the Steelers go 2-3 in their final 5 games to win the AFC North and I just don’t see that happening. So the bottom line is this win was big today it really put the Steelers in total control of winning the AFC North as we start December which is exactly what you wanted.

 

Love your optimism, and I must admit that I thought this was going to be an L today. Let's hope that either the Bills or KC clinches #1 by Christmas (iffy) so that they rest their starters against us. Not that Mahomes is anywhere near all-world right now, but they way they luck into wins lately doesn't bode well for us.

 

another scenario is they will clinch the AFC north with 2 more wins if one of those wins are vs ravens

 

If the Steelers beat the Browns next week they can clinch the AFC North on December 21st if they beat the Ravens that day even if they lose at Philly the week before.

 

With this scenario,it would the good decision for Tomlin if they rest their starters against the chiefs since it would be better for the health of our star players if they avoid a 3rd tough game in 10 days!

This is the best case scenario for the steelers....The rest of the schedule is way too hard to win every game and have the first seed over Buffalo who have a soft schedule outside of their game vs Detroit

 

This is going to sound defeatist but I anticipate Pittsburgh losing to Philly. Not that I don't like this current form of the Steelers compared to when they faced Philly in 2022 but Philly is a notorious place to play. Hell, even the 2008 Steelers couldn't defeat Philly in their place.


Should the Steelers defeat Cleveland and Baltimore one more time?! The Division belongs to the Steelers.

 

I hope we are in position to clinch the division when we play the Rats and we get the win.

The last two games would then be about positioning for a seed or maybe one or both of the last two may have little meaning. Like a Bye week.

Anyway, we are in a good enough position for now. Feels like a clinch of a playoff berth is coming soon.

 

1st seed will be hard (probably going to have to win the rest of our games), but home field shouldn't be as difficult. Wins vs. the Browns and Ravens could do it. I think at this point, that should be the expectation of this team. I want that home field advantage, and I ideally don't want to have to play Baltimore in yet another divisional game if possible. LAC or DEN at home would be a good prize. Both good teams, but both very gettable.

 

I would be okay with a loss to Philly, just win the games left in the conference .

 

not sure this is accurate......have you calculated tie breaking scenarios into this, if we both go 11-6 or 12-7? head to head first, then division record, then like opponents, etc.... (?) Rats have beat the Bungles twice, will split with Brownies probably. Game with us is HUGE, but if we beat Eggles, then it is less important for sure.

 

for sure - that would be A-OK, if all that played out.....

 

Head to head
division record
common games

This is the first 3 tiebreaker and the steelers have the edge in 3 vs ravens right now

 

we certainly have strong odds.

But - if we drop those 3 tough games, and Rats run the table, which includes us (and they have a SOFT schedule), then they win the N. Would not touch this bet with a 10 foot pole!

They have the Giants and Browns. Hardest opponents for them are us and HOU.

it would be NICE to wrap this thing up and REST most of the team vs. the Bungles, last game of the year

 

Beat the ravens another time will be the key!

 

that would be the final dagger!

 

I know it's slim but we are still in the running for the bye.

 

can't afford another loss,this is the problem with our very tough schedule...The Bills have a very soft schedule for the rest of the season outside of their game in Detroit in 2 week

 

I feel like we have a very tough final 5 stretch. Going on the road to Philly and Baltimore won't be easy games. I would love to win both but will settle for a split.
Browns, Bengals, and Chiefs at home. These games will be battles as well. Already lost one to the Browns, need to split with them. I do not want another shootout with the Bengals, need to shorten the game and rest clock. The Chiefs may actually be the easier of 3 home games.
Originally, I had picked us to finish 13-4. I would settle for 11-6/12-5

 

slim - yes. Bills getting hot at right time. But we can handle business w Chefs......they are certainly beat-able!

 

We still have the inside track to win the AFCN. Browns and Bengals are out of the race. We are up 1-0 vs the Ravens. We handle what we can handle and the tie breakers never come up.


It is Browns week!!!

 

Ummm

 

That last game is going to be meaningless for Bengals. They will be thinking of off season while we may be jockeying for Playoff position. Should it be important for Steelers I do believe we will smoke them.

 

I did the ESPN playoff simulator if they both finish 12-5 and the Steelers win the division. So nothing is for sure yet or clinched by any means but the way things stand right now with 5 games left for the Steelers and only 4 games left for Baltimore, the Ravens need a lot to go right for them to win this division based on the results yesterday and I just don’t see it happening.

 

i hope we don't care, don't need it, etc. would love to play a quarter, then rest most of the guys.