Steelers playoff picture: What Week 18 vs. Ravens means for AFC standings

Almost every spot in the AFC playoff picture has been assigned except for the one most important to fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers. By now you know that the Steelers can win and clinch the AFC North title in the final game of the 2025 regular season. The rest of the playoff picture is equally important for Pittsburgh should they punch their ticket.

The winner of the Steelers’ game against the Baltimore Ravens will be the four seed and host the five seed in the AFC. Four teams are still in play for that wild card spot.

• The Jacksonville Jaguars are 12-4 but a loss to the Tennessee Titans coupled with a Houston Texans win, and the Jags could be the five seed.
• The Houston Texans currently hold the five seed. If they win and the Jaguars also win, Houston is the five seed.
• The Los Angeles Chargers would be the five seed with a Texans loss and a Chargers win.
• The Buffalo Bills could also force a rematch with the Ravens/Steelers if they win and the Texans and Chargers both lose.

With the Texans, Chargers, and Bills all expected to rest key starters on Sunday, it’s going to be a disadvantage for whatever team comes out of the AFC North since they are playing through the final whistle of the season.

AFC North standings

The winner of Sunday night’s game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers is the winner of the division. The loser is locked into the two spot with the Bengals and Browns already locked into third and fourth, respectively.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
2. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

Will the Browns and Bengals make any managerial changes after their disappointing seasons? We could know before the end of Steelers/Ravens.

Updated AFC playoff picture

1. Denver Broncos (13-3)
2. New England Patriots (13-3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
5. Houston Texans (11-5)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
7. Buffalo Bills (11-5)
9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

The Broncos hold the record in common games tiebreaker over New England, so if Denver wins against the Chargers in Week 18, they will clinch the one seed.

The Texans win the three-way tiebreaker at 11-5 thanks to wins over both the Chargers and Bills. Then Los Angeles wins the tiebreaker with the Bills thanks to record vs common opponents. The only way for the Bills to move up would be if either Houston or Los Angeles loses as they can’t win a tiebreaker vs either team.