AFC playoff scenarios, Week 15: Bengals, Broncos can clinch

Record: 8-5
Current seed: No. 7
Remaining schedule: vs. Denver, at Baltimore, at Cleveland

Where they stand

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the hottest, and most dangerous, teams in football right now. With Ben Roethlisberger finally healthy and a trio of weapons in Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant on the outside, Pittsburgh is a team nobody wants to face. Luckily, for the rest of the AFC, they would not have to if the playoffs began today.

Pittsburgh is tied with the Kansas City Chiefs at 8-5, but lose out due to a head-to-head tiebreaker and a conference record tiebreaker, respectively.

The Steelers do have the benefit of a favorable schedule, though, something to make the Jets leery.

What needs to happen

This week, the Steelers host the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field. With a win, Pittsburgh would stay in the seventh slot unless Kansas City loses to Baltimore, or the Jets fall to the Cowboys on Saturday night. However, if the Steelers win out and New York also takes it final three games, the sixth and final playoff spot goes to Pittsburgh. The Steelers would actually take the tiebreaker, considering common opponents.

If Pittsburgh wins out, it can not be kept from the postseason. The AFC North is all but Cincinnati’s unless Pittsburgh wins out and Cincinnati loses at least two of three, including Week 17 at home against the Ravens.