Every 1997 NFL race charted week by week: AFC Central, AFC East, AFC West, AFC Wild Card, NFC Central, NFC East, NFC West and NFC Wild Card. Final standings, from a season that ran August 31 to December 22, 1997.
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AFC Central standings, 1997
Team
W
L
T
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT)b
11
5
0
.688
-
7-3
L1
Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX)x
11
5
0
.688
-
6-4
W2
Tennessee Oilers (TEN)
8
8
0
.500
3
6-4
W1
Cincinnati Bengals (CIN)
7
9
0
.438
4
6-4
W3
Baltimore Ravens (BAL)
6
9
1
.406
4.5
3-6-1
L1
Final standings.
Clinch key
x
clinched a playoff place
b
clinched a first-round bye
Turning points
The lead changed hands once.
The Pittsburgh Steelers trailed by as many as 2 games in Week 4.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won 5 games in a row from Week 5 to Week 9, the longest run of the race.
The Jacksonville Jaguars led by 1 game as late as Week 7.
The Pittsburgh Steelers went 6-1 from Week 1 to Week 9, turning a deficit of 1 game into a lead of 1 game.
Four teams held first place.
The Pittsburgh Steelers spent 10 of the season's 17 charted weeks in first place.