Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be able to clinch the AFC North in Week 17. With the Steelers’ win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, combined with a Baltimore Ravens loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football, the Steelers have two ways that they can clinch the division, even before the Ravens come to Pittsburgh for a Week 18 meeting.
The Steelers will clinch the AFC North under two scenarios in Week 17. They will win the division if the Ravens lose to the Green Bay Packers or if the Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns.
The Ravens will visit the Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday, so the Steelers will know before their game in Cleveland on Sunday if they need to beat the Browns or not. The Ravens could be without start quarterback Lamar Jackson, who left Sunday’s game with an injury.
If the Steelers lose and the Ravens win in Week 17, that would set up a winner-take-all Week 18 game between the Steelers and Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Week 18.
The Steelers still may have something to play for going forward, even if the Ravens lose on Saturday. They can still advance beyond their current slotting as the No. 4 seed in the AFC.
Clinching the division early would let the Steelers rest their starters and get meaningful reps for young players over the final week or two of the regular season.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Have 2 Ways to Clinch AFC North in Week 17
