The Baltimore Ravens could be without quarterback Lamar Jackson for their must-win game in Week 17. This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Lamar Jackson Faces Uphill Battle in Pivotal Game

If they win their final three games, the Ravens are guaranteed to take the AFC North for a franchise-record third straight season.

The Steelers secured a pivotal victory on Sunday, defeating the Detroit Lions 29-24. Pittsburgh is focused on clinching the AFC North title, and this win was just one of the key factors contributing to its pursuit of that goal.

Baltimore fell one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North after a narrow loss, but running back Keaton Mitchell escaped serious knee damage and is considered day-to-day.

Week 16 offered a clear snapshot of where each AFC North team stands as the season heads toward its final stretch. Some teams rose to the occasion, others showed progress despite the result, and a few fell short of expectations when it mattered most.

The Ravens being a contender again is more of an indictment of the mediocracy of the other teams in the AFC versus the resurgence of the preseason expectations . As Mike Preston always says, the NFL is a week to week league. There are no truly dominant teams in the NFL this year. Anything is possible on any given Sunday. — Dan

As the NFL enters Week 17 of the 2025 regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers are pulling away in the AFC North and could even clinch a playoff berth before their matchup against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday.

The Baltimore Ravens are AFC North champions. The Cleveland Browns are waiting to see if they'll pick No. 1 overall in April's draft. Cleveland lingered around for the better part of three quarters before the Ravens opened things up in the fourth quarter.