Tag: AFC Playoff picture

Steelers LB embraces villain role ahead of Week 16 Ravens matchup

Patrick Queen welcomes the villain role as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for a crucial Week 16 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Steelers-Ravens rivalry is heating up early, as Week 16’s battle for the AFC North promises to be nothing short of spectacular. While fans of the Black and Gold were disappointed by the team’s Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the stakes for Week 16 are even higher.

One Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker who understands the significance of this second meeting with the Baltimore Ravens is Patrick Queen, who is eager to embrace the villain role in front of his former team’s fans.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Queen anticipated the atmosphere awaiting him in his return to Baltimore. While he acknowledged the hostility of Ravens fans, he welcomed the negativity.

Queen made it clear to the NFL world that he has a chip on his shoulder when it comes to playing Baltimore, as according to the Steelers linebacker, his former team showed little interest in re-signing him.

Fans can witness Queen’s revenge tour as the 10-4 Pittsburgh Steelers head to Baltimore to take on the 9-5 Ravens in Week 16 on December 21 at 4:30 PM EST.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NFL playoff picture: What are Chargers’ chances of making postseason after loss to Buccaneers?

Find out how the loss to the Buccaneers affected the Chargers’ chances of playing beyond the regular season.

The Chargers lost to the Buccaneers on Sunday. They fell to 8-6, as did their percentage of making the playoffs.

According to NFL.com, Los Angeles has an 88% chance of making the playoffs. With the Bolts’ loss, they dropped to the seventh seed, and the Broncos moved into the sixth seed.

Here’s a look at the division standings entering Week 16:

1. Chiefs (13-1) *clinched division*

2. Broncos (9-5)

3. Chargers (8-6)

4. Raiders (2-11)

And a look at the playoff picture:

*There are (7) available Playoff spots

1. Chiefs (13-1)

2. Bills (11-3)

3. Steelers (10-4)

4. Texans (9-5)

5. Ravens (9-5)

6. Broncos (9-5)

7. Chargers (8-6)

8. Colts (6-8)

9. Dolphins (6-8)

10. Bengals (6-8)

AFC playoff matchups if the season ended today:

  • No. 2 Bills vs. No. 7 Chargers
  • No. 3 Steelers vs. No. 6 Broncos
  • No. 4 Texans vs. No. 5 Ravens

NFL playoff picture: What are Chargers’ chances of making postseason after loss to Chiefs?

The Chargers are still in a good position to play beyond the regular season despite their loss to the Chiefs.

The Chargers lost to the Chiefs on Sunday night. They fell to 8-5, as did their chances of making the playoffs slightly.

According to NFL.com, Los Angeles has a 90% chance of making the playoffs. With the Bolts’ loss, they dropped back down to the sixth seed, and the Ravens moved to the fifth seed.

Here’s a look at the division standings entering Week 15:

1. Chiefs (12-1) *clinched division*

2. Chargers (8-5)

3. Broncos (8-5)

4. Raiders (2-11)

And a look at the playoff picture:

*There are (7) available Playoff spots

1. Chiefs (12-1)

2. Bills (10-3)

3. Steelers (10-3)

4. Texans (8-5)

5. Ravens (8-5)

6. Chargers (8-5)

7. Broncos (8-5)

8. Colts (6-7)

9. Dolphins (6-7)

10. Bengals (4-8)

AFC playoff matchups if the season ended today:

  • No. 2 Bills vs. No. 7 Broncos
  • No. 3 Steelers vs. No. 6 Chargers
  • No. 4 Texans vs. No. 5 Ravens

NFL playoff picture: What are Chargers’ chances of making postseason after win over Falcons?

The Chargers are in excellent position to play beyond the regular season.

The Chargers beat the Falcons on Sunday, improving their record to 8-4 and their chances of making the playoffs.

According to NFL.com, Los Angeles has a 94% chance of making the playoffs. With the Bolts’ win and the Ravens’ loss to the Eagles on Sunday, L.A. moved back up to the fifth seed.

Here’s a look at the division standings entering Week 14:

1. Chiefs (11-1)

2. Chargers (8-4)

3. Broncos (7-5)

4. Raiders (2-10)

And a look at the playoff picture:

*There are (7) available Playoff spots

1. Chiefs (11-1)

2. Bills (10-2)

3. Steelers (9-3)

4. Texans (8-5)

5. Chargers (8-4)

6. Ravens (8-5)

7. Broncos (7-5)

8. Colts (6-7)

9. Dolphins (5-7)

10. Bengals (4-8)

AFC playoff matchups if the season ended today:

  • No. 2 Bills vs. No. 7 Broncos
  • No. 3 Steelers vs. No. 6 Ravens
  • No. 4 Texans vs. No. 5 Chargers

Ravens vs. Chargers: Roquan Smith needs rest so DC Zach Orr must tweak

Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith is listed as questionable, DC Zach Orr will need to make adjustments vs. the Los Angeles Chargers.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is questionable for the week 12 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. At 7-4, the Ravens might want to roll the dice and suit Smith up, but they badly need to let him rest and recover, especially as the team prepares for a late-season stretch.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCzEbe5uVHI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Ravens’ defensive coordinator Zach Orr has done his best to adjust for the many digressions within his unit depth chart, and Smith has been his anchor. With 101 total tackles, Smith leads the Ravens on defense, but his vocal leadership and pre-play decipher ability will be crucially missed by Orr tonight.

Running back J.K. Dobbins’s physicality poses a massive problem for the Ravens’ defense without Smith. Perhaps linebacker Trenton Simpson can show himself vital by assuming the Mike position. Safety Kyle Hamilton will need to apply himself as an underneath cover man for the Chargers’ tight ends and additionally play as run support.


Attrition may be the deciding factor for the Ravens on the road tonight. If the Ravens’ offense continues to struggle, the defense will be forced to hold steady on the road, where physicality and the Chargers’ might become too much to bear.

NFL playoff picture: What are Chargers’ chances of making postseason after win over Bengals?

The Chargers are in great position to play beyond the regular season.

The Chargers beat the Bengals on Sunday, picking up their fourth consecutive victory. They improved to 7-3, and their chances of playing beyond the regular season.

According to NFL.com, Los Angeles has a 91% chance of making the playoffs. With the Bolts’ win and the Ravens’ loss to the Steelers on Sunday, L.A. moved up to the fifth seed.

Here’s a look at the division standings entering Week 12:

1. Chiefs (9-1)

2. Chargers (7-3)

3. Broncos (6-5)

4. Raiders (2-8)

And a look at the playoff picture:

*There are (7) available Playoff spots

1. Chiefs (9-1)

2. Bills (9-2)

3. Steelers (8-2)

4. Texans (6-4)

5. Chargers (7-3)

6. Ravens (7-4)

7. Broncos (6-5)

8. Colts (5-6)

9. Dolphins (4-6)

10. Bengals (4-7)

AFC playoff matchups if the season ended today:

  • No. 2 Bills vs. No. 7 Broncos
  • No. 3 Steelers vs. No. 6 Ravens
  • No. 4 Texans vs. No. 5 Chargers

Steelers making calls on multiple WRs at trade deadline, per insider

Insider Adam Schefter brings good news for Steelers fans—potential wide receiver trade targets who could end up in Pittsburgh.

In what has been an up-and-down week for Pittsburgh trade rumors, to say the least, fans of the Steel City are getting a positive update for a change. Insider Adam Schefter reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in contact with teams to trade for any available wide receiver at the trade deadline.

Schefter continued to name two wide receivers and previously rumored trade targets—Carolina Panthers’ WR Adam Thielen and New York Jets’ WR Mike Williams.

While the Carolina Panthers are expected to sell heavily at the trade deadline, the New York Jets may wait to see how the AFC playoff picture takes shape after Week 9’s games before making any potential moves.

The 34-year-old Thielen is well beyond the prime of his career but could provide Pittsburgh with a veteran presence in the wide receiver room.

Williams, however, may still have plenty of gas left in the tank, as when healthy, the WR is a force to be reckoned with.

Will Pittsburgh pull the trigger on any WR trade, or at this point, is making any trade before the deadline simply a pipe dream?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

AFC playoff picture: Where does Pittsburgh currently factor in?

A few weeks away from the 2024 season’s halfway mark, here are the AFC’s current standings and playoff picture through seven weeks.

It feels like it was only yesterday when fans were speculating over the Pittsburgh Steelers Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcon’s, but with the trade deadline around the corner, and only a few weeks away from being half-way through the 2024 season, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape.

Currently, the Pittsburgh Steelers are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the top spot in the AFC North.  The Ravens currently hold the tie breaker over the Steelers, due to Baltimore having a better divisional record of 1-0.  With this in mind, Pittsburgh currently holds the top Wild Card playoff spot as the 5th seed in the AFC overall.

There is currently a four-way tie for the second-overall seed in the AFC playoff picture.  Pittsburgh could realistically take the number one seed if the team can defeat the Chiefs on Christmas day and Ravens twice this season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

10 pending free agents the Ravens should not re-sign

We’re looking at ten pending 2024 NFL free agents that the Baltimore Ravens should not re-sign

Baltimore faces an offseason of change after Mike Macdonald bolted for the Seahawks job. Anthony Weaver landed the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator job, and 26 players, headlined by Patrick Queen, are set to be free agents.

Justin Madubuike landed the franchise tag, leaving Baltimore -$9 million over the salary cap ahead of the early tampering period.

With an urgent offseason underway, we’re looking at ten pending free agents who shouldn’t return.

Ravens salary cap: Positional breakdowns and financial outlook ahead of NFL free agency

Here’s an early look at the Baltimore Ravens’ salary cap, positional breakdowns, and financial outlook ahead of 2024 NFL free agency

The Ravens voided four contracts on Monday, accruing $8.3 million in a dead salary cap hit.

Baltimore will enter the 2024 NFL free agency with urgent decisions to make on Justin Madubuike, Patrick Queen, and 20+ other unrestricted free agents.

The Ravens have about $5 million in salary cap space and the No. 30 overall pick in April’s NFL draft courtesy.

With the new league year quickly approaching, we’re looking at Baltimore’s salary cap, with a positional breakdown and financial outlook before free agency.