AFC North Championship Unlikely but Still Possible for Surging Steelers

December 16, 2015   ·   Andrea Hangst   ·   Jump to comments

The Pittsburgh Steelers needed to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14 to remain relevant in the AFC playoff picture, and beat them they did, 33-20. While the win did not help their seeding in the conference, where they remain No. 7 and just outside of a wild-card berth, a loss would have all but tanked their postseason hopes.
And with three games remaining, the Steelers not only control their own destiny as far as the two AFC wild-card berths are concerned, but also when it comes to the AFC North crown.
Though they trail the division-leading Bengals, who are currently 10-3, Cincinnati could be without starting quarterback Andy Dalton for the rest of the regular season, with Dalton having suffered a fractured thumb early in the game against Pittsburgh.
Dalton's injury provides an opening for the Steelers to take the divisional title, though the odds are against them simply because of the difference between the two teams' records. But looking at the two teams' remaining...

Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - NFL
Article is property of BleacherReport.com