No Way Out (AFC Week 18)

Well, football fans, we're here!

It was a wildly insane journey, but we made it to the final week of the NFL season. We celebrated Christmas, we welcomed a New Year, and now, it's time to say goodbye to the 2023 regular season, and a few teams in the process. There's still a lot to decipher in the playoff picture, and so many teams have one final chance to get in and get what they want. Because of this, for the first time, I have to split this up into separate stories per conference, starting with the American Football Conference.

Here's what's certain in the AFC. The Baltimore Ravens are the #1 seed, clinching that in convincing fashion with their win over the Miami Dolphins. The Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC West and are locked in as the #3 team, and the Cleveland Browns are officially locked in as the #5 team. As for the rest:

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still alive in this playoff race. It was rough for them in recent weeks; the losses to the Cardinals, Patriots, and Colts put them on the brink of possibly missing out, but the last two weeks have seen the Steelers show out and win when they needed to do so. In addition to continuing Mike Tomlin's epic winning season streak (17 straight years), the Steelers now have a good chance to get in. A win and either a Bills loss, a Jaguars loss, or Texans/Colts ending tied will get Pittsburgh in. If they tie, they will need the Jags to lose, and Texans/Colts has to have a winner. Even in defeat, the Steelers can get in with a Jags loss, a Broncos win, and Texans/Colts not tying. The Steelers will kick off Week 18 in Baltimore against a Ravens team who should be resting up Lamar Jackson and their other starters for the most part.

If the Steelers win, all Yinzer eyes will be on the game that follows theirs on Saturday: Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts. Fans in Jacksonville will be watching as well, as those two teams are in a three way tie with the Jaguars at 9-7. The AFC South crown will be on the line for all three teams. Regarding Texans/Colts, it's a pure elimination game. The winner is in, the losing team is out, no questions asked. However, while the Colts and Texans do control their own destiny for getting in, it's the Jaguars who control their own destiny when it comes to winning the South. If the Jaguars defeat the Tennessee Titans in Nashville during Sunday's early window, they will repeat as champions of the South. A Jags loss will give the South to whoever wins Texans/Colts, though the Colts will also win the South if the game ends tied prior to a Jags defeat. The Jaguars can also get a Wild Card spot with a tie and a Steelers loss or tie, or they can back into one with losses from the Steelers and Broncos, as well as someone losing Texans/Colts.

The 272nd and final game of the regular season will feature the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins, the latter coming off getting blasted by the Ravens. As a result of that and the Bills' win, this game will decide the AFC East. One game separates the teams in the standings, but a Bills win will give them the East due to sweeping the season series. The Bills can actually get in the playoffs before their game kicks off. A Steelers loss or tie will put Buffalo in. If that doesn't happen, Texans/Colts tying will do it, or a Jaguars loss or tie will put them in. If none of these things happen, a tie in this game will give the East to the Dolphins, but will also clinch a playoff spot for the Bills as well.

The AFC playoff picture has some interesting storylines, and it makes for some very captivating games for the final week of the season. I sense an amazing season finale coming up!