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Welcome to Week 18 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
While some of the games on the Week 18 slate will not factor into determining playoff positions, one game that will is Saturday’s contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. While the Steelers have already clinched a playoff spot, they enter Week 18 with an outside chance at winning the AFC North on Saturday.
As for the Bengals they need a win — and a lot of help — just to clinch the final AFC playoff spot.
Here is how the Steelers can win the AFC North in Week 18.
Pittsburgh Steelers AFC North clinching scenarios
With a 10-6 record, the Steelers have already clinched a playoff spot.
Pittsburgh still has a chance at winning the AFC North, but the 11-5 Baltimore Ravens control their destiny when it comes to the division title. Still, the Steelers can win the AFC North if the Ravens lose to the Cleveland Browns in the early game on Saturday, and the Steelers defeat the Bengals.
However, since the Ravens control their own destiny, the Steelers might know their fate before Saturday night’s game against Cincinnati kicks off. If Baltimore wins or ties against Cleveland, the Ravens are AFC North champions.
That could make for an interesting decision for Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin. A Ravens win would mean the Steelers cannot clinch the division, but the head coach indicated earlier this week that he would not be resting his starters in this scenario. Why? Because depending on results around the league there is still a chance the Steelers slide down into the No. 6 spot.
The No. 5 seed will play the Houston Texans on Wild Card Weekend, as the Texans are locked into the No. 4 seed. The No. 6 seed plays the No. 3 seed, which will go to the AFC North winner. Even if the Ravens win in the early game, Tomlin might want to play to win Saturday night to avoid a meeting with Baltimore on Wild Card Weekend.
Pittsburgh Steelers seeding scenarios
The Steelers can finish as high as the No. 3 seed in the AFC, or as low as the No. 6.
Let’s start with the No. 3 seed, which is frankly the easiest scenario. With a win over the Bengals, and a Ravens loss to the Browns, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the No. 3 seed in the AFC. Baltimore would slide down to No. 5, and the Los Angeles Chargers would be the No. 6 seed.
However, there are a few different ways the Steelers can end up at No. 5. If the Steelers win and the Ravens win or tie, then Baltimore wins the division, and Pittsburgh slides down to No. 5. A Steelers tie against Cincinnati, and a Los Angeles Chargers loss or tie against the Las Vegas Raiders, locks the Steelers into the No. 5 spot. The same goes for both a Chargers and a Steelers loss, as well as a Chargers loss coupled with a Ravens win or tie against Cleveland.
How can Pittsburgh slide to the No. 6 seed? If Pittsburgh loses to the Bengals, and the Chargers win or tie against the Raiders, then the Chargers are the No. 5 seed and the Steelers the No. 6 seed. In addition, a Steelers tie and a Chargers win locks Los Angeles into the No. 5 seed, and Pittsburgh into the No. 6.
AFC standings entering Week 18
1. z-Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
2. y-Buffalo Bills (13-3)
3. x-Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-7)
5. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, win over LAC)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, loss to PIT)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)*
8. Miami Dolphins (8-8, 6-5 AFC)*
9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8, 5-6 AFC)*
10. Indianapolis Colts (7-9) — eliminated
11. New York Jets (4-12, 4-7 AFC, win over JAX) — eliminated
12. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12, 3-8 AFC, win over JAX) — eliminated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12, 4-7 AFC, loss to NYJ & LV) — eliminated
14. Cleveland Browns (3-13) — eliminated
15. Tennessee Titans (3-13, win over NE) — eliminated
16. New England Patriots (3-13, loss to TEN) — eliminated
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