It could happen

[Jobu]

I thought you said 17 times a team has beaten an opponent 3x in a season?

My scenario is where a team has won the 1st 2 meeting, but then lost in the playoffs to that same team.

Ah, my bad.

So this is getting confusing, different sites giving different results.
This one suggests that since 82, the sweep happens 67% of the time.
2017 Saints Panthers Win
2009 Cowboys Eagles Win
2008 Steelers Ravens Win
2007 Cowboys Giants Lose
2004 Packers Vikings Lose
2004 Rams Seahawks Win
2002 Steelers Browns Win
2000 Giants Eagles Win
1999 Titans Jaguars Win
1998 Cowboys Cardinals Lose
1997 Packers Buccaneeers Win
1997 Patriots Dolphins Win
1994 Steelers Browns Win
1994 Vikings Bears Lose
1993 Raiders Broncos Win
1992 Chiefs Chargers Lose
1991 Chiefs Raiders Win
1989 Oilers Steelers Lose
1986 Giants Redskins Win
1983 Seahawks Raiders Lose
1982 Dolphins Jets Win

Thanks for the research!

No problem.
Just adding, if my Jethro Bodine cyphering abilities are correct, the only way the Steelers and Bungals would meet is if they both reach the AFCCG.

[Stallworth16]

I am pleasantly surprised the Steelers made the playoffs. It was really the Jax win that sealed it. Although the Raiders nearly screwed the pooch. We have a low probability of winning in the playoffs, but you never know.

I have said all season that the push for Ben to retire was premature and I still think so. Many people thought Brady was done and spent in his ability to throw the ball when he was 38-39 years old, and look what happened. Ben probably will retire though, more because he’s tired of all the bullshit.

But the Steelers making the playoffs could cause Ben to rethink, although it’s unlikely, depending on how good or bad it goes for the Steelers.

[gpclay]

I personally would be highly amused if it wound up schizophrenic dysfunctional Raiders vs. schizophrenic, dysfunctional Steelers in the AFCCG nobody could have predicted... not sure that's possible, though.

To be fair, in the year John Madden passed it would be poetic for another Stillers-Raiders AFCGC 45 years after the last time they met for the AFC title. Those games after the 1974, 1975 and 1976 seasons - my god, talk about trench warfare.