Pittsburgh won the AFC North in spectacular fashion Sunday, scoring the winning touchdown with 9 seconds remaining to beat archrival Baltimore 31-27.
Antonio Brown reached over the goal line after taking in a short pass from Ben Roethlisberger for the 4-yard score. Brown was standing up inside the 1, but somehow extended the ball — barely — into the end zone.
The Steelers (10-5) scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. They eliminated the Ravens (8- 7) from contention.
Defending Super Bowl champion Denver was knocked out, too, with its loss at Kansas City. The Broncos have lost three in a row and five of seven.
The entire AFC playoff field is set: New England, Oakland, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Houston and Miami.
The Steelers will be the No. 3 seed in the AFC and host the No. 6 seed during wild-card weekend on either Jan. 7 or 8. Pittsburgh earned the third spot over Houston based on the strength-of-victory tiebreaker, heady territory considering it was 4-5 after falling to Dallas on Nov. 13. As New Year’s nears, the Steelers haven’t lost again.
Kansas City secured a playoff spot when the Ravens lost, and can still win the AFC West.
Earlier this weekend, Atlanta beat Carolina 33-16 , then the Falcons clinched the NFC South title when New Orleans beat Tampa Bay 31-24. The Bucs’ loss also allowed the New York Giants, losers to Philadelphia on Thursday night, to clinch a wild-card spot. Atlanta now has a chance in its regular-season finale to clinch a first-round bye after Seattle lost 34-31 to Arizona.
Houston beat Cincinnati on Saturday night to clinch its second straight AFC South title after Tennessee’s 38-17 loss to Jacksonville . The Texans also will host a wild-card game.
Green Bay won its fifth straight to move closer to the NFC North title, eliminating Minnesota with a 38-25 victory. The Packers moved into the lead for a wild-card berth, and now the Packers must wait to face Detroit for the division crown on Jan. 1. The Lions lost to the Cowboys on Monday, so both the Packers and Detroit enter Sunday night’s contest with matching 9-6 records.
Miami beat Buffalo 34-31 in overtime to move closer to its first playoff berth since 2008. The Dolphins clinched an AFC wild-card berth Sunday night when Denver lost to Kansas City 33-10.
The Redskins (8-6-1) routed Chicago 41-21 to keep them alive a bit longer in the NFC.
The regular season ends Jan. 1. Here’s a closer look at the teams and scenarios:
———
AFC EAST
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-2)
Remaining schedule: at
Miami on Jan. 1.
Division record: 4-1. Conference record: 10-1.
Beat the Dolphins and clinch
home-field advantage throughout.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (10-5)
Remaining schedule: vs.
New England on Jan. 1.
Division record: 4-1. Conference record: 7-4.
They got the win they had to
have in Buffalo and then the
Chiefs’ win that gave them a
wild-card spot.
———
AFC NORTH
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
(10-5)
Remaining schedule: vs. Cleveland on Jan. 1.
Division record: 4-1. Conference record: 8-3.
By beating Baltimore, the
Steelers won the division and
will play in a wild-card game.
———
AFC SOUTH
HOUSTON TEXANS (9-6)
Remaining schedule: at Tennessee on Jan. 1.
Division record: 5-0. Conference record: 7-4.
Tom Savage won his first
career start at quarterback to
help Houston clinch the division. They will play in a wildcard game.
———
AFC WEST
OAKLAND RAIDERS (12-3)
Remaining schedule: at Denver
on Jan. 1.
Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 9-2.
Raiders must finish one game
ahead of the Chiefs.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-4)
Remaining schedule: at San
Diego on Jan. 1.
Division record: 5-0. Conference record: 8-3.
Already guaranteed a wild
card, a series sweep of Oakland gives the Chiefs a
tiebreaker for the division, but
they no longer control the AFC
West race.
———
NFC EAST
DALLAS COWBOYS (13-2)
Remaining schedule: at
Philadelphia on Jan. 1.
Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 8-2.
The Cowboys have a Texassized home-field advantage this
postseason.
NEW YORK GIANTS (10-5)
Remaining schedule: at Washington on Jan. 1.
Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 7-4.
The Giants got the help they
needed without having to wait
for Week 17.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
(8-6-1)
Remaining schedule: vs. New
York Giants on Jan. 1.
Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 6-5.
Not eliminated. Needs a win
and a Packers or Lions loss.
———
NFC NORTH
DETROIT LIONS (9-6)
Remaining schedule: vs. Green
Bay on Jan. 1.
Division record: 2-2. Conference record: 7-3.
The Lions can win the division
with a victory vs. Green Bay.
They also are in the running
for a wild card.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-6)
Remaining schedule: at Detroit
on Jan. 1.
Division record: 4-1. Conference record: 7-4.
The Packers now sit in the second wild-card spot, but one
more win makes them champions of the North.
———
NFC SOUTH
ATLANTA FALCONS (10-5)
Remaining schedule: vs. New
Orleans on Jan. 1.
Division record: 4-1. Conference record: 8-3.
The Falcons not only have a
division title but will have a
chance at a first-round bye
with a win against the Saints.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
(8-7)
Remaining schedule: vs. Carolina on Jan. 1.
Division record: 3-2. Conference record: 6-5.
The Bucs are on the outside
looking in and need lots of
help.
———
NFC WEST
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-5-
1)
Remaining schedule: at San
Francisco on Jan. 1.
Division record: 2-2-1. Conference record: 5-5-1.
First-round bye might be bye-bye for the Seahawks.
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