Steelers Playoff Clinching Scenarios after Beating Ravens

BALTIMORE — The Steelers did what they needed to do, beating the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, 17-10, to finish the season 10-7 and put themselves in the mix for one of the final two AFC Wild Card playoff berths.

Whether they get there will be in the hands of other teams. The Steelers did not do enough over the course of their 17-game season to secure a playoff spot, but they can get there with some help over the next 30 hours.

Now that they’ve won, the Steelers have trimmed their playoff possibilities to three simple options going forward.

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

The Steelers can finish as either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, and if they make the playoffs, they can only play the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs or Miami Dolphins.

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

STEELERS PLAYOFF CLINCHING SCENARIOS

Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans Tie

Though by far the least likely, this is also the earliest the Steelers can clinch their postseason berth. Because the Steelers lost to both the Colts and Texans, who are each 9-7, head-to-head, they lose any two-way tie with those teams.

But if Indianapolis and Houston find a way to play to a tie on Saturday night, the Steelers would finish a half game ahead of both NFC South competitors.

Jacksonville Jaguars lose to or tie the Tennessee Titans

This is a 1 p.m. game on Sunday, which will be available in Pittsburgh on local CBS affiliate KDKA-TV Channel 2.

The Steelers also lose a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Jaguars, so they need Jacksonville to finish beneath them. Either a Jacksonville loss or tie against the Titans, who have already been eliminated, will do the trick.

Buffalo Bills lose to the Miami Dolphins

Here’s a place the Steelers have a tiebreaker, as their superior AFC record will send the Steelers over the Bills if they both finish with a 10-7 record.

The Bills have the biggest potential swing of any remaining team. With a win over the Dolphins, they can win the AFC East and secure the No. 2 seed in the AFC. With a loss, they’ll be facing elimination.

If it comes down to this, it will be the Steelers’ last shot, as the Bills and Dolphins are playing on Sunday Night Football on NBC.