The Houston Texans’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers might seem irrelevant, but it gives the team some key information regarding their potential seeding in the AFC playoff field. Now, with the Texans’ win, the Steelers can only be the fourth overall seed in the field.
If Pittsburgh can clinch their playoff berth at some point over the next two weeks, their only path to the postseason is through the AFC North divisional title, which they can clinch this weekend with a win over the Browns or a loss by the Ravens to the Packers.
The Steelers still have five possible playoff opponents, which include the Chargers, Jaguars, Texans, Bills, or Patriots. However, if they do end up clinching this weekend, their Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens would not have any seeding implications, either.
That would set them up to rest their players for Week 18 before the Wild Card Round no matter who they battle. Houston is now raising themselves up that list rather quickly, as the Texans can earn the five seed with a win next week over the Colts and one Bills loss over the next two weeks.
Either way, Pittsburgh still has to make sure they get into the playoffs first, and they have two scenarios to do this weekend with either a Ravens loss or by doing it themselves and knocking off the Browns.