Showdown for AFC North title moves to prime time
NEW YORK (AP) The showdown for the AFC North title will be played in prime time.
NBC says next week's meeting between the Bengals and Steelers in Pittsburgh will be on ''Sunday Night Football.'' The winner will be division champion.
The NFL does not designate a Sunday night game for Week 17 at the start of the season, waiting to see which matchup has the most intriguing playoff implications.
The Steelers (10-5) beat Kansas City 20-12 on Sunday to clinch a postseason berth. Cincinnati (9-4-1) hosts AFC West champ Denver on Monday night. If the Bengals lose to the Broncos, they could go into the regular-season finale in danger of missing the playoffs.
The announcement was made during halftime of Sunday night's Seahawks-Cardinals game.