AFC Playoff Picture, Week 12

The playoff scenario in the AFC remains muddled with 5 games to play

Nov 25, 2008 Kyle Schurman

No AFC team has a playoff spot clinched with five games to play, but several teams are closing in, led by 10-1 Tennessee.

With five games remaining, among playoff contenders, the Dolphins and Colts have the AFC's weakest remaining schedules, while the Steelers and Bills have the AFC's toughest remaining schedules. The AFC playoff picture looks this way, through Week 12's games:

Division Leaders

  • TENNESSEE 10-1. The Titans lost for the first time last week, but they still have a three-game lead in the AFC South playoff picture and a two-game lead for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Key wins: Colts, Ravens. Key losses: Jets. Remaining opponents (23-32): at Lions, vs Browns, at Texans, vs Steelers, at Colts
  • NY JETS 8-3. The Jets hold a one-game lead in the AFC East playoff picture and might be the hottest team in the AFC, after a dominating win at Tennessee last week. Key wins: Dolphins, Bills, Patriots, Titans. Key losses: Patriots. Remaining (23-32): vs Broncos, at 49ers, vs Bills, at Seahawks, vs Dolphins
  • PITTSBURGH 8-3. The Steelers are undefeated within their own division, the AFC North, and hold a one-game lead. However, they have a very difficult remaining schedule. Key wins: Ravens. Key losses: Colts. Remaining (35-20): at Patriots, vs Cowboys, at Ravens, at Titans, vs Browns.
  • DENVER 6-5. The Broncos might be the weakest divisional leader in football, but they have a two-game cushion in the AFC West playoff picture. Key wins: Chargers, Raiders. Key losses: Patriots, Dolphins, Raiders. Remaining (27-28): at Jets, vs Chiefs, at Panthers, vs Bills, at Chargers.

Wild-Card Challengers

  • INDIANAPOLIS 7-4. With four straight wins against AFC teams, the Colts have worked their way back into the wild-card hunt. Indy's next four games are against sub-.500 teams. Key wins: Ravens, Patriots, Steelers. Key losses: Titans. Remaining (19-35-1): at Browns, vs Bengals, vs Lions, at Jaguars, vs Titans.
  • BALTIMORE 7-4. The Ravens only trail Pittsburgh by one game in the AFC North playoff picture, and they have an easier remaining schedule than the Steelers. Key wins: Dolphins. Key losses: Steelers, Titans, Colts. Remaining (27-27-1): at Bengals, vs Redskins, vs Steelers, at Cowboys, vs Jaguars.
  • NEW ENGLAND 7-4. The defending AFC champs picked up a huge win in Miami last week. Key wins: Jets, Broncos, Bills, Dolphins. Key losses: Dolphins, Colts, Jets. Remaining (26-29): vs Steelers, at Seahawks, at Raiders, vs Cardinals, at Bills.
  • MIAMI 6-5. The Dolphins are trying to go from 1-15 to a playoff berth, but they'll play four of their last five games on the road. Key wins: Patriots, Bills. Key losses: Jets, Ravens, Patriots. Remaining (20-35): at Rams, at Bills, vs 49ers, at Chiefs, at Jets.
  • BUFFALO 6-5. The Bills have stumbled after a 4-0 start, and they finish with four games against AFC playoff contenders. Key wins: None. Key losses: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots. Remaining (30-25): vs 49ers, vs Dolphins, at Jets, at Broncos, vs Patriots.

The Others

  • San Diego 4-7 (The Chargers are only two games out in the AFC West.)
  • Jacksonville 4-7
  • Houston 4-7
  • Cleveland 4-7
  • Oakland 3-8
  • Cincinnati 1-9-1
  • Kansas City 1-10

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