AFC North Championship Unlikely but Still Possible for Surging Steelers

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.

	Steelers	Bengals
Week 15	vs. DEN	@ SF
Week 16	@ BAL	@ DEN
Week 17	@ CLE	vs. BAL

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 opponents, there is a path for the Steelers to be the AFC North's top team.

The Steelers host the Denver Broncos on Sunday, and then have two road games to close out the year, first at the Baltimore Ravens and then the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals, meanwhile, travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers this Sunday, have a Sunday night game against the 10-win Denver Broncos and then host the Ravens in Week 17.

Frank Victores/Associated Press

The two common opponents to end the season work in the Steelers' favor in concert with AJ McCarron taking over as the Bengals' quarterback for the foreseeable future. But the AFC North crown will still require the Steelers to win out. The Bengals, meanwhile would have to lose at least two of their final three games at the same time for Pittsburgh to be AFC North champions and the AFC's third seed. 

The Broncos will be a tough test for both teams. But the Ravens, especially against a Dalton-less Bengals squad, cannot be counted out.

Yes, the Ravens are without quarterback Joe Flacco (ACL, MCL), running back Justin Forsett (forearm), receiver Steve Smith (Achilles), linebacker Terrell Suggs (Achilles) and two starting offensive linemen (left tackle Eugene Monroe, center Jeremy Zuttah), but don't let the injuries or the 4-9 record fool you.

Baltimore has been outscored by just 48 points this year (or 5.3 points per loss) and aside from their 35-6 defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14, every one of their games, both wins and losses, have been decided by a touchdown's worth of points or fewer.

Seed	Team	Record
1.	NE	11-2
2.	CIN	10-3
3.	DEN	10-3
4.	IND	6-7
5.	KC	8-5
6.	NYJ	8-5
7.	PIT	8-5

Though on the road against the Bengals, the Ravens won't let the opportunity to affect the AFC playoff picture pass by unnoticed. And should Cincinnati fall to both Denver and Baltimore, while the Steelers go 3-0 to end the year, they would drop to become a wild-card team, while the Steelers rise.

There are multiple moving parts when it comes to the AFC playoff picture and myriad ways that the Steelers can claim a spot. But there's just one way to win the AFC North: Go undefeated to end the year while the Bengals go 1-2.

While this seemed impossible a week ago, Dalton's injury has opened the door to the Steelers winning the division. No matter what, it appears a wild finish to the 2015 season is in the cards for the Steelers.