Odds Favor Steelers & Ravens Both Making NFL Playoffs Entering Week 15
By Bryan Thiel in NFL Football
Updated: March 30, 2020 at 4:05 pm EDTPublished:
- With three weeks remaining in the season, five teams have a realistic shot at the final AFC Wild Card spot
- The Steelers are hoping to hold on to the AFC North; the Ravens currently have the WC2
- Will the AFC playoff picture remain unchanged? Or can the Colts, Titans or Dolphins sneak in?
This is it. It’s crunch time in the 2018 NFL season.
The Kansas City Chiefs are high and dry. Barring something unforeseen, the road to the Super Bowl goes through Arrowhead. Meanwhile the Patriots, Texans, and Chargers are all likely playing come January.
But what about the rest of the AFC? The Steelers lead the North, but could still miss the playoffs entirely. The Ravens are hot on their heels, and there are three 7-6 teams on the outside looking in.
It’ll be a wild ride.
Odds to Make the Playoffs in the AFC
| Team | 2018 Record | Odds to Make the Playoffs | Odds to Miss the Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-5-1 | -190 | +145 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 7-6 | -120 | -120 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 7-6 | +200 | -300 |
| Miami Dolphins | 7-6 | +280 | -460 |
| Tennessee Titans | 7-6 | +220 | -340 |
| Denver Broncos | 6-7 | +1000 | -5000 |
Odds taken 12/13.
The Browns (5-7-1) and Bengals (5-8) are on the outside looking in too, but they’ve got to go a long way to make it. The Browns may actually have the best chance out of the sub-.500 teams.
They have a long way to go, though.
Ravens and Steelers are playoff bound…for now
Right now both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are in the playoffs, but neither are breathing easy.
Both have significant challenges remaining on their schedule.
Remaining schedules for Ravens and Steelers
| Team | Week 15 opponent | Week 16 opponent | Week 17 opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | vs New England Patriots (9-4) | @ New Orleans Saints (11-2) | vs Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) |
| Baltimore Ravens | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8) | @ Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) | vs Cleveland Browns (5-7-1) |
Things look significantly better for the Ravens than they do the Steelers.
Pittsburgh has a high stakes matchup with an angry Patriots team on Sunday. Then they travel to New Orleans. If they drop both of those, they fall to 7-7-1.
🎙️@ClayTravis: “Would you take the Steelers or the Ravens in the AFC North?”
🎙️@markschlereth: “I wouldn’t take the Steelers to IHOP… There’s an emotional immaturity level there that bothers me. Tomlin vs. Belichick is a butt-whipping waiting to happen.” https://t.co/1voEiaYr4i
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) December 12, 2018
Baltimore, meanwhile, should be able to handle the Bucs on Sunday at home. Tampa has thrown a league-high 24 interceptions. While the Ravens don’t pick off a bunch of passes, they have the fourth-lowest opposing passer rating in the league (84.3).
After that, even if they drop Week 16 in LA, they have a competitive, but winnable game Week 17.
"I believe in Big Ben, I believe in Mike Tomlin."@willcolon66 believes the Steelers will still win the AFC North despite the late charge from the Baltimore Ravens. #T2S pic.twitter.com/onJdW7VZ3g
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) December 12, 2018
The North is not a lock for the Steelers, leaving their playoff status in limbo.
Remaining schedule for the rest of the AFC
| Team | Week 15 opponent | Week 16 opponent | Week 17 opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | vs Dallas Cowboys (8-5) | vs New York Giants (5-8) | @ Tennessee Titans (7-6) |
| Miami Dolphins | @ Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1) | vs Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) | @ Buffalo Bills (4-9) |
| Tennessee Titans | @ New York Giants (5-8) | vs Washington Redskins (6-7) | vs Indianapolis Colts (7-6) |
When you look at the field, the Titans have the easiest Week 15 match up. All three teams have a winnable Week 16 game, and then the Colts and Titans go head-to-head in the last week of the regular season.
Looking at this, it puts the Titans in the drivers seat.
Which team will snag the second wild card spot in the AFC?
Our crew looks at the remaining schedules of the four contenders ⬇️
📺: @NFLGameDay Prime https://t.co/Nu91UUXOdA
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) December 10, 2018
Miami will need more than one miracle
If it wasn’t for their last-second magic against the Patriots, the Dolphins wouldn’t be in the thick of this race. They’d be in the Broncos/Browns/Bengals group.
THE MIRACLE AT HARD ROCK STADIUM
? » @NFLonCBS#NEvsMIA #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/Aoc1L5LcGG
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 9, 2018
That being said, they lucked into a win and now get a Vikings team fresh off of a Monday night embarrassment. The Vikes are just as desperate, and have the benefit of home field.
It’s a tough way to kick off the final three game stretch.
Who rounds out the AFC playoff picture?
Breaking down the playoff picture according to schedule, we can draw a couple of conclusions.
For one, the Broncos (-5000) and Dolphins (-460) will likely MISS the playoffs. Considering their schedule, the Colts (-300) have significant work to do to make it.
Which leaves the Steelers, Ravens and Titans.
Our best, educated guess, and bets?
Take the Ravens (-120) and Titans (+220) to make the playoffs, and the Steelers (+145) to miss.
The mounting injuries combined with the schedule, and the impending end of the Mike Tomlin era make this an uphill climb in Pittsburgh.
Sports Writer
Bryan has spent the last decade working in the sports industry. From the sidelines in the OHL and Rugby League to behind the scenes at TSN, Bryan has a wealth of experience with a soft spot for props and parlays.
