The Baltimore Ravens are now the No. 3 seed and in control of the AFC North after Pittsburgh’s 29-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day.
The Chiefs (15-1) clinched the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage with the win, while the Steelers (10-6) dropped from the No. 3 seed to the 5th spot and would travel to face the Texans on Wild Card Weekend if Baltimore wins out.
With the final Week 17 slate of games upcoming and the season finale nine or ten days away, we’re looking at who Baltimore could potentially face on Wild Card weekend.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 25: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter in the game at SoFi Stadium on November 25, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Chiefs: 15-1 • 1st AFC West –First Round Bye
2. Bills vs. 7. Broncos
3. Ravens vs. 6. Chargers
4. Texans vs. 5. Steelers
Dec 25, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; A Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) tackles Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Pittsburgh needs Baltimore to lose one of their final two games to regain the No. 3 seed.
The Steelers could finish the season as the no. 3 seed, No. 5 seed, No. 6 seed, or No. 7 seed, depending on the rest of the game play out. Here are some situations.
If the Steelers win in Week 18 and the Ravens lose, Pittsburgh is the AFC North champs and the No. 3 seed. This is the only way the Steelers get a home playoff game. Pittsburgh would end up the No. 6 seed if they lose and either the Broncos or Chargers win out.
Nov 25, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) drops back to pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Chargers can clinch a playoff spot with a win Saturday over the Patriots. The Chargers can also clinch a place this weekend if the Colts and Dolphins lose or tie. As it currently stands, The Los Angeles Chargers hold the No. 6 seed in the AFC and would travel to play the Ravens in Baltimore.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos looks to pass in the first quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Broncos lost 34-27 to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16, then the Dolphins, Bengals, and Colts all won on Sunday.
Denver is currently the seventh and final seed in the AFC, setting up a nightmare scenario for the first round of the NFL playoffs. If the season ended today, the Broncos would face the Buffalo Bills (the No. 2 seed) in the Wild Card round.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts in action against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
On Sunday, the Colts’ 38-30 win over the Tennessee Titans kept them alive in the AFC playoff picture. Entering Week 17, the Colts currently hold the No. 8 seed in the AFC and are two games behind the Denver Broncos for the conference’s final wild-card spot. The Colts will make the playoffs as a wild card if they win their remaining games against the New York Giants (2-13) and Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) and one of two scenarios happen:
The Los Angeles Chargers lose their remaining games on the road against the New England Patriots (3-12) and Las Vegas Raiders (3-12). This would tie the Colts and Chargers with 9-8 records; without a head-to-head tiebreaker, the Colts would advance based on having a better AFC record (the Chargers would be 6-6 and the Colts 7-5 against AFC opposition). If the Colts, Broncos, and Chargers were to finish with 9-8 records, the Colts would be the highest-seeded team among the three and make the playoffs based on AFC record.
The Denver Broncos lose their remaining games at the Cincinnati Bengals (7-8) and vs. the Kansas City Chiefs (14-1), AND the Bengals and/or Miami Dolphins win their remaining games. Cincinnati finishes the season against Denver and at the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5), while the Dolphins host the Cleveland Browns (3-12) and New York Jets (4-11) to end 2024.
