The Pittsburgh Steelers will have multiple paths to clinching a playoff berth during Week 15, but the most obvious the most straightforward: a win in their Sunday afternoon matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Steelers would clinch a playoff berth with a win or a tie against the Eagles on Sunday, which would mean the Steelers could lose at most six games. There nearest non-playoff teams to the current cut line already have seven losses.
But the Steelers have a path to clinching a playoff spot in Week 15, even with a loss. If both the 6-7 Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts lose or tie, the Steelers would back into a playoff spot this week. The Dolphins have a 1 p.m. Sunday game on the road again the Houston Texans. The Steelers and Colts will be playing at the same time at 4:25. Indianapolis is visiting the Denver Broncos.
The Steelers cannot clinch the AFC North this week, and the results of the Sunday game between the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants on Sunday do not particularly matter to either team. Even if the Steelers lose and the Ravens win this week, the Steelers will still clinch the division with a victory in Baltimore next Saturday.
With a win and a Buffalo Bills loss to the Detroit Lions, the Steelers can overtake the Bills for the No. 2 overall seed and second-round home-field advantage, though it may be hard to hold it. The Bills finish with two games against the New England Patriots and one against the New York Jets in the final three weeks of the season, while the Steelers play the Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals.