If Steelers fans want their team to maximize potential for this season, they ought to cheer for the Bengals this week. You see, the Bengals play the Ravens, and a loss to Cincinnati would hurt them the most. In fact, of the Ravens’ three games remaining before a rematch against the Steelers, it’s the one game that could ensure Pittsburgh doesn’t have to win in Week 18.
That’s because a Bengals win over the Ravens would put the divisional tiebreaker in play, which the Steelers would win. Provided, that is, if they don’t lose to the Browns. They can afford to go 2-2, including a loss to the Ravens, as long as Baltimore loses to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh’s other loss is to anybody but Cleveland.
As things currently stand in the race for the AFC North, the Steelers are 7-6, the Ravens 6-7, and the Bengals 4-9. Cincinnati is not quite mathematically eliminated, but is pretty much on the cusp. To put it lightly, Sunday’s game against the Ravens is a must must-win. Baltimore could actually afford to lose it and still have a chance.
Right now, both the Steelers and the Ravens control their future. Because their remaining schedule includes a head-to-head matchup, either one running the table would claim the AFC North. In the Ravens’ case, they would finish 10-7 with a 4-2 divisional record.
If the Steelers won all of their remaining games except against the Ravens, in that scenario, they would also be 10-7 with a 4-2 divisional record. But since their head-to-head series would be tied, as would their division record, the next tiebreaker is for common games. And the Ravens, under any scenario that requires a tiebreaker, would have a one-game advantage in common games. All of their remaining games are common to the other, too, the Ravens still playing the Bengals and the Steelers still playing the Browns. Pittsburgh plays Detroit and Miami, as has Baltimore, while the Ravens still have the Packers and Patriots.
If the Ravens lose to the Packers or Patriots, but otherwise win out, they win the division. If the Ravens lose to the Bengals but otherwise win out, and the Steelers lose to the Dolphins or Lions and the Ravens, they still win the AFC North. Because the Steelers would be 4-2 in the division at worst, with the Ravens 3-3 at best.
That’s why Steelers fans should be Bengals fans this week, because they can best help them with the Ravens. And you know Joe Burrow is dying to beat Baltimore. Even though their playoff hopes are virtually nonexistent at this point, they still have pride to play for, and maybe head coach Zac Taylor’s job.
The Bengals may have sparked Mike Tomlin’s ire by trading for Joe Flacco, but they can do him a solid by beating the Ravens. Not that the NFL would want that, since they’re banking on Week 18 being meaningful. And the Steelers’ rematch against the Ravens could be the most meaningful game of Week 18 — unless the Bengals help.