The AFC playoff picture just got a big curveball prior to Week 17. In a move that very much affects the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to rest some players in their season finale, or at least quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, per Steelers Wire.
The Steelers and Bills both sit at 12-3 overall records. Buffalo currently holds the head-to-head win on Pittsburgh from a few weeks back and because of that, the Bills are the No. 2 seed while the Steelers sit at No. 3 in the AFC postseason picture.
Heading into Week 17, the Bills face the Miami Dolphins and if Buffalo loses and Pittsburgh wins, their seeding situations switch heading into the playoffs. That affects who teams will play in Round 1, plus later on it could hold the keys to a second home game in Round 2, depending results.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin announced the decision on Monday that Roethlisberger won’t play. Buffalo’s Sean McDermott did pretty much the opposite, saying he won’t reveal who he plans to and doesn’t plan to play in Week 17.
Regardless, the Bills’ situation, in a way, just got a bit easier if they decided to do some scoreboard watching while playing vs. Miami. The Steelers, meanwhile, will play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Both the Dolphins (10-5) and Browns (10-5), need wins in regard to their own playoff berths.
[lawrence-related id=75519,75506,75498,75477]