With a win over the San Francisco 49ers this week, the Steelers would clinch at least the No. 5 seed in the AFC in the NFL playoffs. The Steelers are currently 10-3. They’re behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, but they’re already nearly a lock to clinch a Wild Card. (As far as I can tell, the only scenario in which the Steelers don’t win at least a Wild Card involves something like the Jets, Raiders and Titans all winning out and the Steelers losing out while Tim Tebow captures a giant unicorn to fly the Broncos to Neptune, or something like that. In other words, don’t worry about it.)
The Steelers could clinch at least the top Wild Card spot with a win this week because that would give them 11 wins, and the only other potential Wild Card teams who could get 11 wins are the Jets and Patriots. The Steelers hold tiebreakers against both teams, and if the Patriots win 12 or 13, they will win the AFC East.
For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain.