The Baltimore Ravens have a one-game lead in this race, so they control their own destiny heading into a season-finale with Cleveland. All they must do is beat the same Browns team that upset them back on Oct. 27. If Baltimore somehow falters, then the Steelers can take the crown with a win over Cincinnati (Pittsburgh holds the tiebreaker advantage in this scenario). It might be tempting to wonder if the Browns could pull off another surprise, but a lot has changed for all the teams involved in this conversation. For one, the Ravens defense is far better than it was in that first matchup, when Browns quarterback Jameis Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns. Hell, Winston has declined so much that he’s not even starting for Cleveland anymore. The Steelers have offensive problems of their own as well. They’ve scored all of 40 points in their last three games – all defeats – and they looked feeble on that side of the ball in a 29-10 loss to Kansas City on Christmas. The Bengals scored 38 points in a loss to Pittsburgh earlier this season. It’s hard to see Pittsburgh keeping pace with that type of explosiveness in this contest. The Steelers are simply going in the wrong direction. The Ravens, on the other hand, are surging at exactly the right time.