How can Steelers clinch the AFC North division in Week 16?

The Steelers can clinch their division before Christmas. We break down how they can clinch a spot in the 2025 NFL Playoffs in Week 16.

Game result: The Ravens clocked the Steelers on Saturday, so the two teams are now tied atop the AFC North. Pittsburgh has the better record in common games, so they remain atop the division, but it’s going to the final two weeks. Baltimore has Houston on Christmas and the Browns in Week 18. Pittsburgh has Kansas City and Cincinnati. Really juicy finish coming.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a tough loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and to compound matters the other three division leaders and the team immediately trailing them in the division all won in Week 15. With games against two of those teams in a four-day span coming up, the Steelers will need to right the ship in a hurry.

The Steelers have already clinched a playoff spot but facing the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, they can clinch the AFC North.

Steelers AFC North clinching scenarios

It’s pretty simple for the Steelers; win and they clinch the division and a home game in January. Pittsburgh is 10-4 and a win means they go to 11-4 and can finish no worse than 11-6. They’ll beat Baltimore to knock them to 9-6, so the best they can finish is 11-6. In the process, Pittsburgh would secure their second win of the season over Baltimore, locking up the tiebreaker.

• Steelers win

If Pittsburgh loses, they will stay in the division lead by the slimmest of margins. Their win over the Raiders gives them a 7-3 record vs common opponents while the Ravens lost to the Raiders and are 7-4.

The Ravens are 6.5-point favorites in their own building, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

AFC standings entering Saturday of Week 16

1. y-Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
2. y-Buffalo Bills (11-3)
3. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-5)

5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5, win over DEN)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wins over DEN)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-6, losses to LAC)*

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8, 5-5 AFC, win over MIA)*
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8, 5-5 AFC, loss to IND)*
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8, 3-6 AFC)*

11. New York Jets (4-10) — eliminated
12. Cleveland Browns (3-11, win over JAX) — eliminated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11, win over TEN, loss to CLE, win over NE) — eliminated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-11, loss to JAX, win over NE) — eliminated
15. New England Patriots (3-11, losses to JAX & TEN) — eliminated
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) — eliminated