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The Steelers are the most successful team in NFL history along with the Patriots, and the AFC playoffs would feel empty without them. With that said, they will go into Week 17 with a chance to make the playoffs and if they do, they will join a couple of their division opponents.
The AFC North has seen their rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens, clinch a playoff spot going into next week. The Bengals are 11-4 and the Ravens are 10-5, meaning both of them have a spot in at least the Wild Card round, with one of them going on eventually to win the division.
The AFC East and AFC West have seen dominant leaders in the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. Each leads not only in their division, but are the first and second seeds in the AFC respectively. The only undecided division without a single team with a confirmed playoff spot is the AFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans are tied for the top spot despite a losing 7-8 record. Both of them are moving in different directions, though, with the Jaguars ascendant and the Titans falling fast.
The Los Angeles Chargers now also have a 9-6 record, a full two games ahead of the Jaguars, Jets, Patriots, Titans, and Steelers. That means they have now qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2018, as they are assured of at least a Wild Card Spot.
AFC playoff standings entering NFL Week 17
Here are the full AFC playoff standings for all 16 teams entering Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season. The top four teams are the current division leaders, followed by all of the teams in the Wild Card race, including tie breakers.
- Buffalo Bills (12-3) - clinched AFC East division
- Kansas City Chiefs (12-3) - clinched AFC West divison
- Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) - clinched playoff spot
- Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8)
- Baltimore Ravens (10-5) - clinched playoff spot
- Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) - clinched playoff spot
- Miami Dolphins (8-6)
- New England Patriots (7-8)
- New York Jets (7-8)
- Tennessee Titans (7-8)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)
- Las Vegas Raiders (6-9)
- Cleveland Browns (6-9) - eliminated
- Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1) - eliminated
- Denver Broncos (4-11) - eliminated
- Houston Texans (2-12-1) - eliminated
Steelers and their AFC Playoff Chances?
With the Chargers clinching another Wild Card spot and the AFC South division winners guaranteed a playoff spot, there is just one spot remaining now for them to make the playoffs. They are 7-8, tied with a host of other teams, with the 8-7 Miami Dolphins ahead of them.
They need to win both their last couple of games and hope the Dolphins blow their last two weeks. They also need the Jets, Jaguars, Patriots, Titans, and Jaguars to lose as well in the upcoming couple of weeks. It's a tight needle to thread but not impossible.
