NFL Week 16 Takeaways: Updated Playoff Picture, Top Storylines from Saturday’s Games
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Steelers QB Mason RudolphJoe Sargent/Getty Images
The NFL offered football fans with a significant Saturday night double-header to start the weekend. Up very first was a fight in between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, 2 AFC wild-card competitors.
The Bengals can be found in on a hot streak, while the Steelers were reeling. The Bengals were stunned by a Pittsburgh defense excited to safeguard its home grass and an unforeseen aerial surge from quarterback Mason Rudolph.
The Steelers rose in a 24-point very first half, and aside from a long Tee Higgins goal reception, mostly stymied the Bengals offense. The outcome was a 34-11 Pittsburgh win that keeps the Steelers’ playoff hopes afloat and puts Cincinnati in a difficult hole.
The Los Angeles Chargers hosted the Buffalo Bills in the nightcap. While Buffalo was white-hot coming off of wins over the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys, it lasted longer than Los Angeles by the narrowest of margins.
It took a Cameron Dicker basket with less than a minute staying in guideline and a last protective stop to put away a Chargers group encouraged to bet interim coach Giff Smith.
Buffalo’s 24-22 success puts the Bills one action better to protecting a playoff area, while formally getting rid of the Chargers from postseason contention.
Listed below, you’ll discover our most significant takeaways for each group and what Saturday’s outcomes indicate for the AFC playoff photo.
AFC Playoff Picture
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Ravens QB Lamar JacksonPerry Knotts/Getty Images
Existing AFC Playoff Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens (11-3)*
2. Miami Dolphins (10-4)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6)
5. Cleveland Browns (9-5)
6. Buffalo Bills (9-6)
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
In the Hunt
8. Houston Texans (8-6)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
11. Denver Broncos (7-7)
Removed: New England Patriots (3-11), New York Jets (5-9), Tennessee Titans (5-9), Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
*= clinched playoff berth
Mike Tomlin Has Not Lost Control of the Steelers
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Steelers head coach Mike TomlinMichael Allio/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images
Over the previous couple of weeks, it sure seemed like the Steelers had actually lost their edge. They were physically bossed around by the Arizona Cardinals, began sluggish versus the New England Patriots and faded rapidly versus the Indianapolis Colts.
It was reasonable to question whether Mike Tomlin, who has actually been Pittsburgh’s head coach given that 2007, was still efficient in keeping this group together.
