For the second straight season, the Steelers and Bills meet in a late-season “Sunday Night Football” game with playoff implications.
Entering Week 14, Pittsburgh (11-1) is the No. 2 seed in the AFC with Buffalo (9-3) right behind in the No. 3 spot. Both have scenarios to lock up playoff berths in Week 14, although the Bills’ only chance requires a lot of help. The Steelers can also secure the AFC North divisional crown depending on what happens on Monday night with the Browns (9-3).
Both Pittsburgh and Buffalo have strong odds to reach the postseason thanks to their current positioning and another three games remaining in the regular season after Sunday night. A year ago, the Bills beat Pittsburgh in Week 15 to secure a playoff spot, a feeling both teams will be chasing again in prime time in Week 14.
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Steelers playoff clinching scenarios for Week 14
A Pittsburgh win against the Washington Football Team in Week 13 would’ve locked the Steelers into a playoff berth, but instead Washington handed Pittsburgh its first loss. That means the Steelers are still looking to set in stone a spot in the postseason. They’ve also got a route toward securing the AFC North divisional crown in Week 14, which would secure Pittsburgh a top-four seed out of the seven AFC playoff berths.
Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title in one scenario:
- Steelers win AND Browns loss
Pittsburgh clinches playoff berth in four different scenarios:
- Steelers win or tie OR
- Raiders loss or tie OR
- Dolphins loss or tie OR
- Titans loss
The biggest thing Pittsburgh is contending for in the final four weeks of the regular season, once any doubts about a playoff berth and the division are set aside, is the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Because of the expanded playoff field, only one team gets a bye in each conference instead of two. Kansas City and Pittsburgh enter Week 14 with identical 11-1 records, with the Chiefs atop the AFC on tiebreaker.
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Bills playoff clinching scenarios for Week 14
The Bills have their first playoff-clinching opportunity in Week 14. Ironically, Buffalo secured its 2019 playoff berth with a win on Sunday Night Football over the Steelers for its 10th win of the season, although that was in Week 15 and not Week 14.
Buffalo clinches playoff berth in one scenario:
- Bills win AND Ravens loss AND Dolphins loss AND Raiders loss AND Patriots loss or tie
If Buffalo can’t clinch a playoff spot in Week 14, it’ll get a great opportunity on Saturday in Week 15 against the turnover-prone Drew Lock and the Broncos.