AFC Playoff Picture, Week 13

Tennessee, Denver, Pittsburgh Close in on Playoff Berths

Dec 2, 2008 Kyle Schurman

Through 13 weeks of NFL play, no team has clinched a playoff spot in the AFC with four games remaining, but Tennessee, Pittsburgh, and Denver all could clinch in Week 14

To clinch a playoff berth this week, Tennessee needs to only win against Cleveland or to have New England lose and either the New York Jets or Miami lose. If the Titans win and the Jets lose, Tennessee will clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs. Denver, meanwhile, can clinch the AFC West by defeating Kansas City and having San Diego lose Thursday night to Oakland. Pittsburgh also can clinch a playoff spot this week, but the Steelers would need a win plus losses by both Miami and New England.

If the playoffs began today, Tennessee would be the #1 seed, Pittsburgh #2, the New York Jets #3, and Denver #4. The wild card spots would go to Baltimore and Indianapolis.

Among the AFC playoff contenders, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Buffalo play the AFC's toughest remaining schedules, while the New York Jets, Indianapolis, Miami, and New England play the AFC's weakest remaining schedules.

Division Leaders

  • TENNESSEE 11-1. The Titans had no problems with winless Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. Tennessee is two games clear of Pittsburgh in the race for home-field advantage throughout, but the Titans will play Pittsburgh in three weeks. If Tennessee wins this week and the Colts lose, the Titans will clinch the AFC South. Key wins: Colts, Ravens. Key losses: Jets. Remaining opponents (26-22): vs Browns, at Texans, vs Steelers, at Colts
  • NY JETS 8-4. After the Jets lost to Denver last week, the AFC East race became much tighter; New York holds a one-game lead over the Patriots and Dolphins. The Jets play a very weak schedule down the stretch, facing no teams over .500 during the next three weeks. Key wins: Dolphins, Bills, Patriots, Titans. Key losses: Patriots, Broncos. Remaining (19-29): at 49ers, vs Bills, at Seahawks, vs Dolphins
  • PITTSBURGH 9-3. The Steelers are undefeated within their own division, the AFC North, and hold a one-game lead over Baltimore. Both teams have difficult schedules remaining, and the Steelers will travel to Baltimore in two weeks. Key wins: Ravens, Patriots. Key losses: Colts. Remaining (31-17): vs Cowboys, at Ravens, at Titans, vs Browns.
  • DENVER 7-5. The Broncos picked up a huge win against the Jets last week, and now look like a lock to win the weak AFC West. Denver leads San Diego by three games, and the Broncos can clinch the division with a win against Kansas City and a San Diego loss. Key wins: Jets, Chargers, Raiders. Key losses: Patriots, Dolphins, Raiders. Remaining (21-27): vs Chiefs, at Panthers, vs Bills, at Chargers.

Wild-Card Challengers

  • INDIANAPOLIS 8-4. If the playoffs began today, the Colts would be in as a wild card, thanks to five straight wins against AFC teams. Indianapolis' next three games are against teams with a combined five wins, before the Colts close against powerful Tennessee. Key wins: Ravens, Patriots, Steelers. Key losses: Titans. Remaining (16-31-1): vs Bengals, vs Lions, at Jaguars, vs Titans.
  • BALTIMORE 8-4. After blowing out woeful Cincinnati last week, the Ravens are clear by one game in the race for an AFC wild card spot. Baltimore isn't out of the AFC North race, either, trailing Pittsburgh by just one game. Key wins: Dolphins. Key losses: Steelers, Titans, Colts. Remaining (28-20): vs Redskins, vs Steelers, at Cowboys, vs Jaguars.
  • NEW ENGLAND 7-5. After the Patriots collapsed in the second half of a home loss to Pittsburgh, they need to play strong down the stretch to return to the playoffs and have a chance to defend their AFC championship. Fortunately for New England, it plays one of the AFC's weakest remaining schedules. Key wins: Jets, Broncos, Bills, Dolphins. Key losses: Steelers, Dolphins, Colts, Jets. Remaining (18-30): at Seahawks, at Raiders, vs Cardinals, at Bills.
  • MIAMI 7-5. The Dolphins stayed in improbable contention for a wild card by winning at St. Louis last week. This week, Miami and Buffalo will play an elimination game of sorts in Toronto. Key wins: Patriots, Bills. Key losses: Jets, Ravens, Patriots. Remaining (20-28): at Bills, vs 49ers, at Chiefs, at Jets.
  • BUFFALO 6-6. The Bills are in deep trouble in terms of making the playoffs, having lost six of their last eight games. The good news for Buffalo is it faces four AFC playoff contenders in December, giving the Bills a chance to control their own fate. Key wins: None. Key losses: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots. Remaining (29-19): vs Dolphins, at Jets, at Broncos, vs Patriots.

The Others

  • Houston 5-7
  • Jacksonville 4-8
  • San Diego 4-8
  • Cleveland 4-8
  • Oakland 3-9
  • Kansas City 2-10
  • Cincinnati 1-10-1

The copyright of the article AFC Playoff Picture, Week 13 in Football is owned by Kyle Schurman. Permission to republish AFC Playoff Picture, Week 13 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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