NFL Playoff Picture 2017: Examining Latest Scenarios and Top Bracket Busters

The Pittsburgh Steelers won the key game in their season when they defeated the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16.

That victory allowed them to clinch the AFC North title and the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoff structure. The Steelers may be the team that has the best chance of keeping the top-seeded New England Patriots from reaching the Super Bowl.

They are clearly the healthiest and most dangerous of the four AFC teams playing during the Wild Card Weekend. They are hosting the Miami Dolphins Sunday, and Miami head coach Adam Gase will likely have to play Matt Moore at quarterback once again.

Starter Ryan Tannehill has been throwing on the sidelines as he recovers from a knee sprain, but he has yet to participate in a full practice for the Dolphins. If he can return, that would improve the Dolphins’ chances.

Every extra set ! Every extra rep ! It’s for the extra inch !! AFC North CHAMPS baby !! #boomin pic.twitter.com/Xdg9egGmxB

— Antonio Brown (@AntonioBrown) December 26, 2016

It’s difficult to see the Dolphins stopping the Steelers at this point. Pittsburgh has won seven games in a row, and the victory over the Ravens in Week 16 was an epic NFL moment with wideout Antonio Brown stretching the ball over the goal line to give his team the victory that clinched the AFC North title.

Brown caught 106 passes for 1,284 yards with 12 touchdowns, and he may be the best receiver in the NFL. He has demonstrated that he can make the biggest plays at the most important moments, and that’s the kind of characteristic that will help a team bust through the AFC bracket and possibly get to the Super Bowl.

Brown is joined by teammates Le’Veon Bell at running back and Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback as players who are also at or near the pinnacle when it comes to position play.

Bell has a unique running style that allows him to wait for his blockers to execute their blocks before accelerating through the opening. He has rushed for 1,268 yards while averaging 4.9 yards per carry and pounding the ball into the end zone seven times in 12 games.

The Saturday afternoon wild-card matchup between the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans has the least luster of this weekend’s games.

The Raiders played brilliant football through their first 14 games, but they suffered a cruel blow when they lost superb starting quarterback Derek Carr to a broken …

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