The Steelers need a few things to happen for them to win the division. Even more needs to happen for them to lock up the #1 seed in the AFC. Let’s lay out the scenarios, and then tell us what you think in the poll.
Scenarios:
Steelers get #1 seed in AFC: Steelers need to beat Browns. Bengals need to beat Ravens. Bills need to be Patriots. My odds on this: 10% all this happens. The Pats will be the ones to ruin this scenario – the Bills will be no match. The Steelers would have a better record than the Ravens and have the tie breaker over the Pats.
Steelers get #2 seed in AFC: Steelers need to beat Browns. Bengals need to beat Ravens. Patriots beat Bills. My odds on this: 40% all this happens. The Bengals are playing for a playoff spot – unexpected and very motivating. We all know how the Ravens can play in games they are supposed to win. If the Bengals can keep the Ravens’ offense in check, theres a decent chance the Bengals and Andy Dalton could scrap enough points to win. Not extremely likely, but possible… and probably the most possible of all the ‘favorable’ scenarios for the Steelers. The Steelers would have a better record than the Ravens putting them as the #2.
Steelers get #5 seed in AFC: Steelers need to beat Browns. Ravens beat Bengals. Patriots beat Bills. My odds on this: 85% all this happens. As long as the Steelers play stingy on D and efficiently on O like they did against the Rams, the Brownies are done. Very good chance of that taking place. As discussed before – as long as the Ravens are ‘prepared’ to play and if Brady doesn’t crap the bed, then they win those games. That will force the Steelers as the 5th seed because of the tie breaker with the Ravens even though they have the same records. This is the worst of it, but the more likely scenario
One crapy scenario to note that doesn’t effecting seeding for Steelers but could be dangerous come playoff time: If the Bills and Ravens win, then the Ravens have the #1 seed and home field throughout. Not a fun scenario.
So Nation, what do you think?