Randy Inman
Bruce Bostwick
James Rickard
jesse-podoll
Robin PottratzNFL Playoff Picture: AFC
November 20th 2008 22:13
Going in to week 12 of the NFL season the standings tell us that the playoffs are far from determined. Sure, there are locks to the post-season party, but what about the rest of the brackets? Let's take a closer look.
If the playoffs started today:
AFC
1. Tennessee Titans AFC South Division Champs (10-0)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers AFC North Division Champs (7-3)
3. New York Jets AFC East Division Champs (7-3)
4. Denver Broncos AFC West Division Champs (6-4)
5. Indianapolis Colts AFC South Wildcard (6-4)
6. Baltimore Ravens AFC North Wildcard (6-4)
You will notice that from this list, several big name contenders and/or pre-season favorites are missing (read: New England, San Diego, Jacksonville). Now, if we take a look just a bit deeper we can find that the playoff spots are wide open. Let's break down each division more in-depth.
AFC East: Status "Wide Open"
1. New York Jets (7-3)
2. Miami Dolphins (6-4)
3. New England Patriots (6-4)
4. Buffalo Bills (5-5)
At 7-3, the Jets currently sit atop this division. However, it's far from decided as the last place Bills sit only at 5-5. Not to mention, you can never count out the New England Patriots - as they have proven that although Tom Brady's season was over early, the team is still very much alive. The surprise team of this division (or NFL, for that matter) is the Dolphins, and with the use of the ever popular "Wildcat" formation this resurgent Chad Pennington led team could make waves and bring this division down to the wire.
AFC North: Status "Two Horse Race"
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
2. Baltimore Ravens (6-4)
3. Cleveland Browns (4-6)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (1-8-1)
The tie kept the Bengals from being mathematically eliminated this week, but for all intensive purposes their post season aspirations are null. The Browns finally started the Brady Quinn era, but at 4-6 it may have been too little too late; even if they show vast improvement from the inconsistent team that they have been this year. This division comes down to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. This division could very well be decided in Week 15 when the Steelers travel to Baltimore (Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore in overtime in Week 4, 23-20).
AFC South: "Locked Up"
1. Tennessee Titans (10-0)
2. Indianapolis Colts (6-4)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6)
4. Houston Texans (3-7)
The 1972 Miami Dolphins have yet to pop the annual bottle of champagne due to the Titans this year. While being undefeated at this point in the season is a slight surprise - no one foresaw the resurgence of Kerry Collins. His ability to control the clock and sustain drives just long enough is reminiscent of Trent Dilfer in his Super Bowl MVP season. Indianapolis has the best shot at a wildcard in the AFC, and the way Peyton Manning has been playing of late bodes well for that scenario to play out. Unfortunately for Jacksonville they seemed to have started to lose the momentum and chemistry they were able to build at the end of last season.
AFC West: "Up In the Air"
1. Denver Broncos (6-4)
2. San Diego Chargers (4-6)
3. Oakland Raiders (2-8)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (1-9)
Denver should be thanking its lucky stars to be sitting atop this division. Being at -23 net points and a -10 turnover ratio does not usually translate into a division leader. That is not the only thing that has gone the right way for the Bronco's this year - as questionable referee calls have helped this team on more then one "W' for the win column. San Diego has been a slight disappointment so far this year, but with a player of LT's caliber in the backfield - a good push to the playoffs is definitely within their grasp.
As you can see, the playoff picture is as cloudy at this point in the season as it has ever been, and there are still several teams with legitimate shots to make a push to the post-season. It should be an exciting last few weeks, and every game should count.
If the playoffs started today:
AFC
1. Tennessee Titans AFC South Division Champs (10-0)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers AFC North Division Champs (7-3)
3. New York Jets AFC East Division Champs (7-3)
4. Denver Broncos AFC West Division Champs (6-4)
5. Indianapolis Colts AFC South Wildcard (6-4)
6. Baltimore Ravens AFC North Wildcard (6-4)
AFC East: Status "Wide Open"
1. New York Jets (7-3)
2. Miami Dolphins (6-4)
3. New England Patriots (6-4)
4. Buffalo Bills (5-5)
At 7-3, the Jets currently sit atop this division. However, it's far from decided as the last place Bills sit only at 5-5. Not to mention, you can never count out the New England Patriots - as they have proven that although Tom Brady's season was over early, the team is still very much alive. The surprise team of this division (or NFL, for that matter) is the Dolphins, and with the use of the ever popular "Wildcat" formation this resurgent Chad Pennington led team could make waves and bring this division down to the wire.
AFC North: Status "Two Horse Race"
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
2. Baltimore Ravens (6-4)
3. Cleveland Browns (4-6)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (1-8-1)
The tie kept the Bengals from being mathematically eliminated this week, but for all intensive purposes their post season aspirations are null. The Browns finally started the Brady Quinn era, but at 4-6 it may have been too little too late; even if they show vast improvement from the inconsistent team that they have been this year. This division comes down to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. This division could very well be decided in Week 15 when the Steelers travel to Baltimore (Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore in overtime in Week 4, 23-20).
AFC South: "Locked Up"
1. Tennessee Titans (10-0)
2. Indianapolis Colts (6-4)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6)
4. Houston Texans (3-7)
The 1972 Miami Dolphins have yet to pop the annual bottle of champagne due to the Titans this year. While being undefeated at this point in the season is a slight surprise - no one foresaw the resurgence of Kerry Collins. His ability to control the clock and sustain drives just long enough is reminiscent of Trent Dilfer in his Super Bowl MVP season. Indianapolis has the best shot at a wildcard in the AFC, and the way Peyton Manning has been playing of late bodes well for that scenario to play out. Unfortunately for Jacksonville they seemed to have started to lose the momentum and chemistry they were able to build at the end of last season.
AFC West: "Up In the Air"
1. Denver Broncos (6-4)
2. San Diego Chargers (4-6)
3. Oakland Raiders (2-8)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (1-9)
Denver should be thanking its lucky stars to be sitting atop this division. Being at -23 net points and a -10 turnover ratio does not usually translate into a division leader. That is not the only thing that has gone the right way for the Bronco's this year - as questionable referee calls have helped this team on more then one "W' for the win column. San Diego has been a slight disappointment so far this year, but with a player of LT's caliber in the backfield - a good push to the playoffs is definitely within their grasp.
As you can see, the playoff picture is as cloudy at this point in the season as it has ever been, and there are still several teams with legitimate shots to make a push to the post-season. It should be an exciting last few weeks, and every game should count.
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