The weather’s getting cold up in the Midwest, but the AFC North playoff race is heating up. The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to hold off the Baltimore Ravens entering December, seeking their first division title since 2020. Using PFN’s Playoff Predictor, we examine the latest scenarios and odds for both teams.
AFC North Playoff Scenarios | Week 14 Update
Sunday 1 p.m. ET Results
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) def. Cleveland Browns (3-10)
According to PFN’s Playoff Predictor, the Steelers currently have a 66.1% chance to win the AFC North, while the Ravens have a 33.6% chance. These numbers will update as games are finished throughout the week.
Below you can see the AFC North scenarios heading into Sunday.
Which Teams Are Still Competing for the AFC North Crown?
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
Entering Week 14, the Steelers have a 65.6% chance to win the AFC North. Below is Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule.
- Week 14: vs. Cleveland Browns
- Week 15: at Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 16: at Baltimore Ravens
- Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 18: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Steelers entered Week 13 as leaders of the AFC North but not as the favorites to win it. That designation belonged to the Ravens before Sunday’s games.
However, the Steelers got a big boost by gaining a full game on the Ravens, beating the Cincinnati Bengals while Baltimore fell to the Philadelphia Eagles. As a result, the Steelers saw a huge increase from their 41.7% chance to win the division entering Week 13.
Pittsburgh still has the eighth-hardest remaining strength of schedule, as a pair of short-rest games against the Ravens and Chiefs will do them no favors. Still, even if Pittsburgh loses the rematch to Baltimore in Week 16, Mike Tomlin’s team controls its own destiny for the division if it can sweep the other four games.
Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
Entering Week 14, the Ravens have a 34.2% chance to win the AFC North. Below is Baltimore’s remaining schedule.
- Week 14: BYE
- Week 15: at New York Giants
- Week 16: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 17: at Houston Texans
- Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns
Baltimore is among the batch of teams with the latest possible bye in Week 14. After losing the first Steelers game in Week 11, the Ravens likely need to sweep their final four games and see another Steelers loss along the way to have a shot at the division.
The good news is that Baltimore remains a virtual lock for the postseason at 96.0% entering Week 14. Should the Ravens fall short of the division, it’s possible they could rest several starters again in Week 18 to buy their top players two weeks of rest in the final five weeks after playing 13 straight to begin the season.
The Ravens have the 12th-easiest remaining strength of schedule. Like Pittsburgh, Baltimore has a pair of short rest games in Weeks 16 and 17 due to the NFL’s insistence on playing on Christmas this year, despite the holiday falling on a Wednesday.
With the Steelers likely to be underdogs against both the Eagles and Chiefs, the Ravens still have a very strong chance to win the division if they can take their final four games.