Game update: The Baltimore Ravens are still alive in the chase for the AFC North title. Cleveland’s stunning 13-6 upset of the Steelers denied Pittsburgh a chance at winning the division, setting up a high-stakes meeting in Week 18 between the two teams. The winner of that game will clinch the division title and secure a playoff spot, while the loser will be eliminated.
NFL playoff picture: How the Pittsburgh Steelers can clinch a playoff berth in Week 17
Steelers. We break down how they can clinch a spot in the 2026 NFL Playoffs in Week 17.
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Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
Update (Saturday night): Baltimore’s 41-24 win over the Packers means that the Ravens are still alive in the race for the AFC North title, and the Steelers have yet to clinch the division.
They can take care of that tomorrow with a win or a tie against the Browns.
This weekend, Aaron Rodgers can return to the playoffs.
Rodgers last appeared in the NFL postseason in the 2021-2022 season with the Green Bay Packers, completing 20-of-29 passes for 225 yards in a 13-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. But Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot, and can lock in their spot before they even take the field on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Here is how Rodgers and the Steelers can book their playoff berth in Week 17.
Pittsburgh Steelers clinching scenarios
The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Cleveland Browns in an AFC North clash on Sunday afternoon.
But they might have already clinched a playoff spot before kickoff.
Pittsburgh clinches the AFC North, and a spot in the postseason, with a win or tie against the Browns on Sunday. But they can be guaranteed a division title before that game. Right now the Steelers have a 9-6 record, while the only team that can catch them in the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens, have a 7-8 record. Pittsburgh wins the division if the Ravens lose or tie on Saturday night to the Green Bay Packers.
So, Pittsburgh is in the playoffs if they win or tie against the Browns on Sunday, or the Ravens lose or tie against the Packers on Saturday night.
AFC standings entering Week 17
Here are the current AFC standings after the Christmas games:
- Denver Broncos (13-3) - x
- New England Patriots (12-3) - x
- Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) - x
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) - x
- Buffalo Bills (11-4) - x
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Indianapolis Colts (8-7)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Miami Dolphins (6-9) - e
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) - e
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10) - e
- New York Jets (3-12) - e
- Tennessee Titans (3-12) - e
- Cleveland Browns (3-12) - e
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-13) - e
x - Team has clinched a playoff spot
e - Team has been eliminated from playoff contention
AFC North standings entering Week 17
Here are the AFC North standings as Week 17 begins:
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10) - e
- Cleveland Browns (3-12) - e
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