NFL scores, live updates: Steelers and Bengals fighting for playoff position after Ravens lock up AFC North
The AFC North title was decided after the Baltimore Ravens' 35-10 win over the Cleveland Browns earlier Saturday, but the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals still have plenty to play for.
For the Bengals, it's trying to stay alive in the NFL playoff race. Even with a win, the team's record will need losses by the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins on Sunday to be able to play next weekend, though they've lasted longer than anyone expected a few weeks ago. They are currently on a four-game win streak after starting 4-8.
For the Steelers, it's a matter of their preferred wild-card opponent. A win would mean facing on the road the Houston Texans, who have been flailing lately and are in the playoffs through the grace of a down AFC South. A loss and a win by the Los Angeles Chargers means going to Baltimore, where they lost 34-17 two weeks ago.
And, of course, there's always pride between AFC North rivals.
The Ravens captured the divisional crown with an undramatic victory against the Browns, who started Bailey Zappe at quarterback, swapped in Dorian Thompson-Robinson after a pick 6, then brought Zappe back in. With the Cleveland offense struggling, the Ravens were up multiple scores the entire second half.
The biggest highlight: an interception by 355-pound defensive tackle Michael Pierce.
Baltimore is now locked in as the No. 3 seed in the AFC side of the playoffs, behind the No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs and No. 2 Buffalo Bills.
Lamar Jackson finished his season with 4,172 passing yards and 41 passing touchdowns with some of the best pass efficiency numbers in NFL history, as well as 915 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. It was the most productive and efficient season of his career. Was it good enough for a third MVP award against a strong campaign by Bills quarterback Josh Allen?
Chiefs plane briefly stranded at Kansas City airport amid icy conditions, blizzard warning
The Kansas City Chiefs can eliminate the rival Denver Broncos from playoff contention by beating them in Sunday's Week 18 game, but only after an unexpectedly extended stay in Missouri. Just ahead of a scheduled takeoff Saturday, the Chiefs' team plane was stranded at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) due to "rapid ice accumulation" on the airfield, as CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson reported.
The airport closure lasted only about two hours, but it came amid warnings of a major winter storm in the Kansas City area, with the National Weather Service forecasting blizzard conditions starting Saturday afternoon and lasting into Monday. Officials had indicated that travel may be "impossible" once heavy snow begins to fall Sunday afternoon, with wind gusts also estimated to reach 35-40 miles per hour, as KMBC reported.
The Chiefs were originally scheduled to land in Denver at about 3 p.m. local time Saturday, per Wolfson. Their delayed travel isn't expected to impact Sunday's scheduled game.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: How to watch tonight's game, kickoff time, channel and more
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing for a playoff seeding when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals during the final week of the regular NFL season. The Saturday night game between the AFC North rivals will also have playoff implications for the Bengals; if they win this one (and if the Broncos and Dolphins lose their games on Sunday), the Bengals will snag a spot in the post-season. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch this week's Bengals vs. Steelers game at Acrisure Stadium, and where to find live game-day updates.
Date: Saturday, January 4, 2024
Time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
Game: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
TV channel: ESPN, ABC
Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo, DirecTV, and more
The Bengals play the Steelers on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.
You can watch the Bengals vs. Steelers game on ESPN and ABC on streaming platforms like Fubo TV, DirecTV and Hulu with Live TV. The game will also stream on ESPN+.
All times Eastern
Saturday, Jan. 4
Sunday, Jan. 5
Many NFL games are broadcast on local channels, so if you're looking to catch an in-market game, it may be as simple as turning on your TV (or setting up a digital TV antenna). A $7/month subscription to NFL+ will get you access to NFL Network which can be great for watching some games, but the downside of NFL+ is that when it comes to the regular season, it's just local and primetime games (and only on mobile or tablet!). In which case, here's what we recommend to watch the NFL.
