Steelers vs. Ravens is important enough to force a Week 18

The Steelers Week 12 matchup vs. the Ravens on Thanksgiving has been postponed twice.

The Steelers were set to play the Ravens on a short week, with the chance to knock the Ravens out of contention for the division. Yet, it wouldn’t end the Ravens playoff hopes, with the extra wildcard team added in each conference. With that being said it is safe to say that there are massive playoff implications to this game. However, the game was unfortunately postponed to that Sunday, only to be postponed again until Tuesday.

The Steelers and Chiefs look like the only two teams that could earn the #1 seed and the only playoff bye in the conference. Coming into 2020, it seemed that the Ravens, led by 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson, were the only team with a chance to knock the Chiefs out of the playoffs. With a lot of struggles as of late, the Ravens are looking to get back into a groove. Even if the Ravens can’t attain the number 1 seed, they are still fighting for a more favorable matchup, by way of attaining a higher seed, on the way to playing either the Steelers or Chiefs.

Not only could this game be the difference in the AFC North, but it could also shape the matchups between the top teams in the AFC. It is clear that even with some of the Ravens’ offensive struggles, they have the defense to be a major player in the postseason. Not only is it for the Raven’s future, but if Baltimore were to win in their second game with the Steelers, it could help the Browns contend for 1st place, even at 3 games behind Pittsburgh at this point.

With such important playoff implications, this game must be played. The NFL has pushed it back as far as Tuesday as of now. Yet, in the past, it has been discussed that there may be a need for a Week 18 to be added to fill in any games that have heavy playoff implications. With the Steelers being the number 1 seed in the AFC, it would be too much to ask of a team, like the Chiefs, to allow Pittsburgh to accept a forfeit.

The Ravens have still been seeing more and more positive tests up to this point. Even if they have enough players to field in the game, they have to stop seeing a spread before they can be around other teams. The Steelers themselves just had their second player test positive for Covid-19 this season, along with their special teams’ coach. I would not be surprised in the slightest if the NFL does in fact add a Week 18 for this game to be played.

If we look back to Week 4 with the Titans, the Steelers game was postponed twice, until the league had decided to just move it ahead to Week 7. If the Ravens and the Steelers are unable to show zero positive tests by Monday, then the game will have to be postponed again. There is no way the league would push it back to Thursday, forcing both the Steelers and Ravens to then prepare for a Sunday game just 3 days after a tough divisional matchup.

If I am correct, then the Steelers will be playing the Browns in Week 17, and then the Ravens a Week after that to ensure the playoff seeding is correct. It very well could be the difference for the race for the number 1 seed or the division.