The 11-4 Bengals remain in sole possession of first place in the AFC North with 1 1/2-game lead in advance of their Monday Night Football showdown with the Buffalo Bills.
The Baltimore Ravens fell to 10-6 with a 16-13 loss Sunday night against the Steelers that kept 8-8 Pittsburgh's Wild Card chances alive.
As of now, No. 3 seed Cincinnati would face the sixth-seeded Ravens in the first round of the playoffs. The Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, and in second place in the AFC West) would earn the No. 5 seed and top Wild Card if the season ended now because of a better conference record than Baltimore. Both the Ravens and Chargers have clinched playoff spots.
The 8-8 New England Patriots would be the No. 7 seed if the season ended now. The Bengals defeated the Pats in Week 16.
Baltimore defeated the Bengals, 19-17, earlier this season. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Cincinnati in the final game of the regular season.
The Bills - the first AFC team to clinch a playoff spot - lead the AFC East at 12-3. The 13-3 Chiefs clinched first place in the AFC West. Only the No. 1 seed in each conference gets a first-round bye in the NFL postseason.
The 7-9 Tennessee Titans and 8-8 Jacksonville Jaguars will meet Saturday in Week 18 to determine the winner of the AFC South.
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