Poll of the Day: Who will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs?
With two weeks (and a game) to go, there are four teams in the hunt for the top seed in the AFC playoffs.
Entering Week 15, the Houston Texans were the No. 1 seed based on the league's tie-breakers. Although the Texans have already locked up the AFC South and the first playoff berth in franchise history, they lost to the Panthers this week and will now need some help to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
In addition to the Texans, the Ravens lost their fourth game of the season (all on the road). Their loss means that, at least until tonight's Monday Night Football matchup, the Ravens would be the No. 5 seed at 10-4 since the Steelers are 10-3.
A win tonight over the 49ers would move the Steelers to the top of the AFC playoff standings. However, a Steelers' loss would put the Ravens back in control of the AFC North considering they won both of their matchups against the Steelers.
[In addition, a Steelers win would knock the 49ers down to the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs behind the Packers, who would then clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, and the Saints.]
With the Steelers (10-3), Texans (10-4) and Ravens (10-4) in the hunt, the Patriots (11-4) currently sit in first place in the AFC standings. That said, the Patriots lost to the Steelers earlier in the season so the Steelers would have the head-to-head tie-breaker if they win tonight.
Here are the teams remaining opponents:
- New England: vs. Miami, vs. Buffalo
- Pittsburgh: at San Francisco (Week 15), vs. St. Louis, at Cleveland
- Houston: at Indianapolis, vs Tennessee
- Baltimore: vs. Cleveland, at Cincinnati
Who will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC?
