How Ravens, Steelers can win the AFC North - ESPN

HOUSTON — The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers won't be able to clinch the AFC North on Christmas. But their games on Wednesday will be factors in crowning the champion of this closely contested division.

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the AFC North is essentially a coin flip. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Ravens have a 53.2% chance to win while the Steelers have a 46.8% chance.

All eyes will be on Wednesday's games, when Pittsburgh hosts the Kansas City Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, Netflix) and Baltimore plays at the Houston Texans (4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix).

«I pretty much know the scenarios to a degree — the ones that matter,» Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. «I think you need to know it as a head coach going into a game regarding ties. What do you want to play for if it comes to that? How does a tie versus a loss versus a win benefit us if it would ever come to that?»

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There's not much separating the Ravens and Steelers, who have the same overall record (10-5) as well as the same mark in the division (3-2) and among common opponents (7-3).

Despite losing 34-17 in Baltimore on Saturday, the Steelers control their fate in the AFC North because they hold the advantage in conference record, which is the fourth tiebreaker. Pittsburgh is 7-3 in the AFC while Baltimore is 6-4.

So, the Steelers would win the division if Pittsburgh and Baltimore both win their remaining two games. But Pittsburgh has a tougher schedule, playing the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs