Week 16 featured an AFC North matchup at just the right time for the Baltimore Ravens. In a divisional series that's seen the Pittsburgh Steelers win eight of the last nine, Baltimore needed a victory in the worst way.
There was a whole lot on the line going into this one. The Ravens initially sat just one game behind the Steelers in the divisional standings. With a win, Baltimore could pull even with Pittsburgh.
The Ravens not only beat the Steelers and pulled into a tie for first place in the division with a record of 10-5, but Baltimore also secured a playoff berth in the process.
Yes, even if the Ravens happened to drop their last two games of the regular season, the playoffs are now officially a reality. Of course, that wouldn't be ideal, but for the moment, we know at least one thing is guaranteed after the Ravens handedly beat the Steelers by a score of 34-17 on Saturday afternoon.
Updated AFC Playoff picture proves Ravens still have work to do after win vs. Steelers
There were a pair of big AFC matchups on this Week 16 Saturday, so let's check in on the most updated playoff picture after both the Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs won (def. Houston Texans, 27-19).
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
4. Houston Texans (9-6)
5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
7. Denver Broncos (9-6)
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
Ravens fans' first question after reading the most recent standings has to be why the Steelers are still ahead in the playoff picture.
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Both the Ravens and Steelers are now 3-2 in the division, so the first tiebreaker won't cut it. However, the Steelers are 7-3 within conference play, while the Ravens are 6-4. That, right there, is the key.
Next week, Baltimore takes on the Texans who have also clinched a playoff berth, along with also clinching the AFC South. With higher seeding still on the line and Houston coming off a loss and looking to bounce back, this could be one of the better matchups of Week 17.
The Ravens will finish off the season with their final division game on the road against the Cleveland Browns in Week 18.
As for the Steelers? Their final two games of the regular season are a little tougher. Pittsburgh takes on both the Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals to end the year.