NFL Playoffs 2014: Clinching Scenarios for AFC North

Let's take a look at the AFC North.

First thing's first. Cleveland is already eliminated. Hey. Sorry. That's our fault. After being wiped out on Thursday night football by Cleveland, putting Bengals fans and players into a tailspin of anger, despair and eventually redemption, the Browns are now faced with another offseason without a postseason story... so, that's our bad.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Pittsburgh can clinch a postseason berth with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. This would eliminate the Chiefs, who are in the mix for the Wild Card, and Pittsburgh, who already holds the tiebreaker against San Diego with a better winning percentage in the conference, is in.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (v Kansas City Chiefs)

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff berth with:

1) Steelers win

BALTIMORE RAVENS: Baltimore, with a win over the Houston Texans, also needs the Steelers and Bengals to lose for postseason qualification. So obviously this storyline, which won't be determined until Monday Night puts the Ravens in the mix for the division, but also wild card positioning. This scenario also makes week 17 interesting between the Bengals and Steelers... one could win the division, the other a wild card (or worse, elimination).

BALTIMORE RAVENS (at Houston Texans)

Baltimore clinches a playoff berth with:

1) Ravens win plus Steelers loss plus Bengals loss OR

And of course the Cincinnati Bengals, which was explained here.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (v Denver Broncos)

Cincinnati clinches the AFC North with:

1) Bengals win plus Steelers loss plus Ravens loss or tie

Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with:

1) Bengals win OR
2) Bengals tie plus Ravens loss OR