Heading into Week 18, most of the AFC playoff picture had come into focus. However, one slot remained up for grabs—the third and final wild-card spot.
The situation was this—if the New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills, the Pats were in. If the Patriots lost and the Miami Dolphins got past the New York Jets, then the No. 7 seed in the AFC belonged to Miami. And if the Patriots and Dolphins both lost and the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns, then the Steelers would claim that final playoff spot.
We got as far as the second part of that scenario.