The Steelers have the weekend off but they’ll be watching, particularly what happens in Cincinnati.
Here’s a capsule look at Broncos-Bengals and the other two games kicking off today:
BRONCOS (9-6) at BENGALS (7-8), 4:30 p.m.
Denver: The Broncos clinch a spot in the playoffs with a victory. It would be their first postseason appearance since 2015 when they won Super Bowl 50 (the current eight-season drought following a Super Bowl win is the longest in NFL history).
Denver leads the NFL with 51 sacks. The Broncos have scored 27 points in five straight games and are averaging 24.2 points per game (10th in the NFL entering Week 17). The Broncos and Raiders are the only two teams that don’t have a player with at least 500 rushing yards.
Cincinnati: The Bengals will be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss (they finish their regular season at the Steelers in Week 18). Cincinnati has won three straight and is trying to become the first team in NFL history to reach the playoffs after losing at least eight of its first 11 games. The Bengals are 0-7 against teams that currently have a winning record.
Quarterback Joe Burrow leads the NFL in completions (384), passing yards (4,229) and passing touchdowns (39). He’s the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 250 yards and at least three touchdowns in seven straight games. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL in catches (108), receiving yards (1,510) and receiving TDs (16).
CHARGERS (9-6) at PATRIOTS (3-12), 1 p.m.
Los Angeles: The Chargers clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win, or if Indianapolis (at the New York Football Giants) and Miami (at Cleveland) lose on Sunday. Los Angeles entered Week 17 No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense (18.3 points per game) but has allowed 27 points or more in four of its last six games.
Quarterback Justin Herbert’s 20,466 career passing yards are 153 shy of surpassing Peyton Manning for the most by a player in his first five seasons. Herbert has career-low totals in passing attempts per game (28.7) and passing yards per game (216.2) but career-high figures in passing yards per attempt (7.5) and passer rating (98.4) this season. Second-round rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey leads the Chargers in targets (94), catches (60) and receiving yards (960).
New England: Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye has thrown for one or more touchdowns and one or more interceptions in seven straight games. New England has started nine different offensive line combinations (the most in the NFL).
CARDINALS (7-8) at RAMS (9-6), 8:10 p.m.
Arizona: The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention with last weekend’s loss at Carolina. Arizona is 8-25 in games played in Week 11 or later since 2020 (tied for the worst in the NFL with Carolina). Quarterback Kyler Murray is 9-18 in December and January (including playoffs).
Los Angeles: The Rams’ only path to the playoffs is to win the NFC West Division. Los Angeles has scored fewer than 20 points in back-to-back games and quarterback Matthew Stafford has a combined 270 passing yards since Los Angeles beat Buffalo, 44-42, on Dec. 8. The Rams have also allowed fewer than 10 points in consecutive games.
Los Angeles is 12-1 in December games started by Stafford since the Rams traded for him in 2021 (only Josh Allen at 13-3 and Patrick Mahomes at 13-4 have more December wins since then).
