The Steelers and Browns matched up in Cleveland in Week 12, and at times, it looked like the teams were playing in a snow globe.
This was the first of two matchups between these AFC North opponents and only the second divisional game that Pittsburgh has played this season. This game is always close between these bitter rivals, but the weather impacted the play of both teams. It was snowing so hard at times that you couldn’t even see the football go through the uprights on an extra point.
The Browns had the 24-19 win when the game clock reached zero, dealing a massive blow to Pittsburgh’s hopes of a No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Here’s what the Pittsburgh loss means for its playoff outlook.
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
AFC North standings
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1. | Steelers | 8-2 |
| 2. | Ravens | 7-4 |
| 3. | Bengals | 4-7 |
| 4. | Browns | 2-8 |
Cleveland picked up its third win of the season, but none has been bigger than over its division rival. The Browns scored the game’s first touchdown and looked like they dealt with the snow better than the Steelers did. Cleveland had a jolt in the first half from the defense sacking Russell Wilson four times, three courtesy of Myles Garrett. Thanks to the weather, it was an ugly game all around, but Jameis Winston led a late-scoring drive in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback.
Cleveland will head into Week 13 still in last place in the AFC North, but most fans probably don’t care as much about that as they do about the Steelers’ five-game win streak getting snapped. Pittsburgh will head into Week 13 still in first place in the AFC North, though. Even if the Ravens beat the Chargers on Monday night, the Steelers will be 8-3 compared to 8-4 for Baltimore, thus a half-game ahead.
Pittsburgh still controls its own destiny in the North, but it will likely come down to the Week 16 showdown in Baltimore to decide the division champ.
MORE STEELERS-BROWNS:
AFC playoff standings
as of Nov. 22. Top four seeds are divisional leaders
| Seed | Team | Rank |
| 1. | Chiefs | 9-1 |
| 2. | Bills | 9-2 |
| 3. | Steelers | 8-3 |
| 4. | Texans | 7-4 |
| 5. | Chargers | 7-3 |
| 6. | Ravens | 7-4 |
| 7. | Broncos | 6-5 |
| 8. | Colts | 5-6 |
| 9. | Dolphins | 4-6 |
| 10. | Bengals | 4-7 |
| 11. | Browns | 3-8 |
| 12. | Jets | 3-8 |
| 13. | Patriots | 3-8 |
| 14. | Titans | 2-8 |
| 15. | Raiders | 2-8 |
| 16. | Jaguars | 2-9 |
Pittsburgh will also go into next week as the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoff picture. They will trail the Chiefs and Bills no matter if the teams win or lose, and they will remain ahead of the Texans. However, the quest for the No. 1 seed in the conference is in much worse shape after the loss, as the Steelers do not control their own destiny. They need the Chiefs and Bills to pick up some more losses, and they cannot have many more, if any, losses.
The Steelers have to win the AFC North to have a shot at the No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye in the playoffs. With six games left, there is still so much football left to play that Pittsburgh can mathematically be the No. 1 seed but could also completely miss the playoffs if it goes on a bad losing streak, as unlikely as that is. Given the schedule, the matchup against the Chiefs on Christmas Day is a must-win if the Steelers have any chance of that coveted top spot in the AFC.
Steelers remaining schedule
| Week | Opponent |
| 13 | at Bengals |
| 14 | vs. Browns |
| 15 | at Eagles |
| 16 | at Ravens |
| 17 | vs. Chiefs |
| 18 | vs. Bengals |
Read the full article here