TheFunPolice

It's certainly possible, but a 10-7 AFC will make it in. Happens every year when we say "this year an 11-6 team will miss!" then a 9-8 team slips in. Lots of losses are coming for the top AFC teams. It's just math, because they play each other. Broncos/Jaguars, Broncos/Chargers, Chargers/Texans, Chargers/Chiefs, Broncos/Chiefs, Jags/Colts twice, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some... I think the Chiefs get the Colts spot.

Agreed also. People forget that Tomlin + HOF QB equaled 2 SB berths and one win during the era of Manning and Brady. Plus Big Ben had some great success later in his career too. The current Steelers team is old, tired, overpaid, and just done. Watt is not the same guy this season as he has been, nor is Hayward. Their last couple OCs have been bad, but they also have an awful OL and barely any threats on offense to throw to or run the ball. A buddy of mine is a huge Steelers fan so I see a lot of their games and talk a lot of Steelers ball. They are not a good team. Their defense is so-so at best and their offense struggles to string together 7-8 play drives. As much as Steelers fans hate Tomlin, I think he coaches up a 6-11 team to 9-8 each season. That isn't a 11-6 roster.

this discussion is moot: McDermott has a lifetime contract here. Think Tomlin style job security. He's a great person and a good enough coach to win, so you might as well get behind him because he will be the coach for Allen's entire Bills career.

AFC Division winners do not impress me as true contenders: Denver, Indy/Jax/Hou, NE, BAL,PIT,CIN Out of that mix, the scariest possible division winner would be CIN, because they are like a video game team that can score at will when healthy. If their defense can force 2-3 punts they will be in every game with Burrow. But none of the other likely AFC division winners scares me at all. I still think it will be BUF/KC in the AFC Title Game in Highmark, as it should be.

Jauron was the perennial 7-9 HC here. If he had Josh Allen with those defenses is it hard to imagine he would have gone 10-6 or 11-5 those years instead? Would putting Allen on those teams instead of Losman or trent mean +3 or +4 wins? If so, you basically have McDermott. It would be tough to have a top 2-3 NFL QB and not do well in the regular season.

Steelers are a complete mess, which is why I had zero doubt we would win. Even diehard Steelers fans have no hope, no matter the record, of them doing anything of note. Now we have guys skipping film study, freelancing, going 50% out there... They are horrific on offense. I've watched several Steelers games this season, and it feels like their offense is never on the field. When they are, it's 2 yard run, then the inevitable incomplete pass to nowhere with a close up of Rodgers yelling at someone or no one. Then, there will be a beautiful, vintage Rodgers throw right on the money that bounces off the stone hands of the WR. Those are few and far between, though, because the Steelers never sustain drives. They are awful. I am happy we won of course, but the Steelers are a hopeless team. The fans booed Renegade and chanted "Fire Tomlin" all 4th quarter.

This is what the league wanted and it's really the first year it has worked out so well. December is going to be like Wild Card weekend every week, starting this Thursday night with Cowboys/Lions. Every weekend is going to be packed with games between teams with great records and all sorts of playoff implications. Almost anything could still happen. Those looking at the AFC and thinking it's over for teams like KC should remember that all those 3-4 loss teams are going to play each other, sometimes twice, still. So 9-3 or 8-4 teams will become 9-5 or 8-6 teams. Then the 7 seed becomes a race.

Bills could still get the AFC East crown. Lots of ball left to play. We're 8-4. That's a very good record. AFC South will cannibalize itself, so no #1 seed there. Broncos could run away a bit and be this year's #1 seed Titans team that was a quick 1 and done. If you're a Chiefs fan you want the Jaguars to sweep the Colts, getting them to 6 losses. Jags have the H2H over KC from earlier in the season but KC beat the Colts. Both conferences are stacked for similar reasons: lots of games still to come between the top teams, especially in the AFC. There are a lot of losses to go around for the top teams still so it looks more daunting than it really is. If KC goes 10-7 I give them a 50/50 chance, if they go 11-6 they are getting in.

all the NFC teams are trying to help the Bills out here, which is amazing to see!

Not sure Denver winning or losing means much to most wild card teams. They are so far ahead in that division. KC fans would want Denver to lose a couple so they can't rest starters against the Chargers in week 18. That could keep KC out: LA beating Denver's backups

Nice job by Washington of getting out of 3rd and 25

Absolutely brutal call Refs are actively screwing Washington

Next week's lineup of games is ridiculously good! Starts with this Thursday Lions vs Cowboys

What a catch!

Right now but things are going to shift significantly in the AFC over the next bunch of weeks. A 10-7 team will probably make it in as the 7 seed.

Proof that football is a mental game IMO

Colts are definitely going to slip I think... But there are a lot of AFC losses coming up, because these teams all play each other. It's going to be a crazy and fun end to the season! Colts and Chargers could both slip late and allow a bottom feeder like KC in

Steelers should trade him for something in that case.

Oh I know... My friend is a huge Steelers fan and I sound like a delusional Steelers backer compared to him

are they chanting Fire Tomlin?

Ultimately, I think the Steelers biggest issue is they are built to win AFC North games by a score of 11-8 in a driving rain or slush storm but they have nothing to keep up with other teams.

They have basically no weapons on offense. Rodgers has made some sick throws this season to fit balls into crazy windows and the ball almost always bounces off the stone hands of the receivers

you know Tomlin wants to punt this ball

all season it seems like after every single incomplete pass Rodgers is blowing up

"another" Pittsburgh Steelers first down? Poor PA guy is trying! LOL