It's been a wild and unpredictable season for teams in the AFC North. As the Pittsburgh Steelers jumped out to a 4-1 record to begin the season, the Baltimore Ravens seemed effectively eliminated after a 1-5 start to the year. But the tides can shift quickly in the NFL.
Entering Week 17, the Steelers were hoping for a Ravens loss to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. This would have handed Mike Tomlin's team the AFC North crown before even suiting up on Sunday. Instead, the Ravens stunned the Packers at Lambeau Field, while Pittsburgh dropped a must-have game against the previously 3-12 Cleveland Browns.
And just like that, the entire script has flipped.
The Steelers entered Week 17 with a 91 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL.com's playoff picture. However, in a matter of days, these odds have plummeted. After the results of Sunday's games, the updated NFL playoff picture now gives Pittsburgh just a 46 percent chance of making it to the postseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are suddenly underdogs to make the playoffs
While the potential playoff matchups for the AFC North winner vary depending on the upcoming Week 18 results, there's only one way for the Steelers to enter the tournament: defeat the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday Night Football in the Week 18 season finale. The winner advances to the playoffs, and the loser goes home.
With the Texans beating the Chargers in Week 17, it's a division title or nothing for the Steelers and Ravens this week. There is no other way to enter the postseason, as six of the seven playoff spots in the AFC have already been claimed, based on total record.
But oddsmakers aren't calling this a 50/50 shot for the Steelers. NFL.com's playoff picture gives the Steelers just a 46 percent chance of cracking the tournament. Meanwhile, The Athletic's playoff picture has the Steelers with just a 41 percent chance of making the playoffs.
There are several reasons for this. The Ravens are coming off a road win over the Packers, which consisted of 41 points scored. Meanwhile, the Steelers couldn't find a way to muster up more than six points in their loss to the Browns.
In addition, the Week 18 season finale will be held at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore—giving the Ravens the upper hand. The Steelers will also be missing wide receiver DK Metcalf for the second straight week due to suspension.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are slated as underdogs for their final game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens, and with how they looked against Cleveland in Week 17, they are suddenly longshots to make the playoffs.