Steelers Have Clear Path to AFC North Title in Week 17 - With or Without Facing the Ravens
The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into Week 17 with more than just momentum - they’ve got a legitimate shot to lock up the AFC North before the calendar flips to 2026. Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions, paired with the Baltimore Ravens’ loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football, cracked open the door to a division crown. And now, the Steelers have two clear paths to walk through it.
Here’s the breakdown: Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North in Week 17 if either of two things happen - the Ravens lose to the Green Bay Packers, or the Steelers take care of business against the Cleveland Browns.
Baltimore plays first, traveling to Lambeau Field for a Saturday showdown with the Packers. That timing gives the Steelers a bit of a luxury.
They’ll know exactly where they stand before kickoff in Cleveland on Sunday. If the Ravens fall in Green Bay, Pittsburgh won’t even need to beat the Browns to seal the division.
If Baltimore wins, then it’s simple: the Steelers must win to avoid a high-stakes Week 18 finale.
And that potential finale? It’s shaping up to be a heavyweight bout. If the Ravens win and the Steelers lose in Week 17, it sets up a winner-take-all clash in Week 18 at Acrisure Stadium - a game that could decide not only the AFC North but also playoff seeding implications.
There’s also a subplot worth watching here. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson exited Sunday’s game with an injury, and his status for Week 17 is still uncertain. If Jackson can’t go, that could tilt the scales in Green Bay’s favor - and by extension, help the Steelers clinch without even taking the field.
But even if Pittsburgh wraps up the division early, don’t expect them to coast into the playoffs. There’s still room to climb in the AFC standings, where they currently sit in the No. 4 seed. A higher seed could mean a more favorable playoff matchup, and that’s not something this team is likely to overlook.
Still, clinching early would give head coach Mike Tomlin some options. He could rest key starters in Week 18, giving veterans a breather and letting younger players get valuable snaps in a game with less at stake. That kind of flexibility is gold in late December, especially for a team that’s been grinding through a physical AFC slate.
Bottom line: The Steelers control their destiny, and they’ve got multiple ways to punch their ticket as AFC North champs. Whether it happens Saturday night with a little help from Green Bay or Sunday afternoon with a win over Cleveland, Pittsburgh is right on the doorstep. Now it’s just a matter of how - and when - they kick it open.