We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty in the playoff races in each conference. With three games to go, only six teams have been eliminated from contention, three from each conference. That means that each conference has thirteen teams vying for seven spots. Let’s have a glance at the AFC this week and the NFC in seven days. In three of the divisions, the leader has a two game cushion (the North, the East, and the West). In the North, the Ravens are two games ahead of the Browns and have three on the Bengals. What was looking like a tough schedule a few weeks ago isn’t looking quite as difficult at the moment. The 49ers will be a challenge, but Miami still hasn’t beaten a good team and Pittsburgh is fading badly. I think they’ve got it wrapped up.
In the East, Miami might need every bit of that two game lead. Buffalo has San Diego and New England coming up, while Miami has Dallas and Baltimore. It’s quite likely that each team will be 10-6 when Buffalo rolls into Miami on the last day of the season. If the Dolphins hadn’t blown it two weeks ago against the Titans, they might not be in such a precarious spot. However, with Buffalo winning their first match-up, that loss matters a little less (but it sure was embarrassing!). It might take just one win against a good team from the boys in turquoise to win the division. They’ll almost certainly get in the playoffs anyway, but they’ve still got plenty to prove this year.
Out West, Kansas City has the jump on Denver, who really needed to beat the Lions last week. Detroit totally dominated (which was a great relief to Lions fans, who have a deeply ingrained sense that their team WILL find a way to blow it if it can indeed be blown). While Detroit has righted the ship heading into their Cowboy meat on Viking bread sandwich, Denver’s surge into playoff contention sputtered. These last three for the Broncos (the Patriots, the Chargers, and the Raiders) are absolutely winnable, and I think they really need to win them all to get into the postseason. K.C. is likely to get a couple of wins down the stretch (they’re looking at Raiders-Bengals-Chargers), so they’re all but assured of the division crown, but Denver can claim a wildcard if they win out.
The most intriguing division in the AFC is the South, where Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and Houston all sit at 8-6. The Colts and the Texans play to wrap up the year, but there’s a real chance that game may mean nothing if at least one of the teams doesn’t win its other two. If the Jags win out against the Bucs, the Panthers, and the Titans, they will win the division on tie-breakers regardless. All three of these teams are in some danger here because the two who don’t win the division are looking over their shoulders at the Bills and Broncos (and their combination of momentum and relatively easy schedules). They’re also contending with the Bengals and Browns for those three wildcard slots. As of today, Jacksonville wins the division and the Colts sneak with the seventh seed. I predict only the division winner will get in, but with some help, all three could still make it. That’s what’s made this season so fun: the sheer unpredictability week to week. Every team keeps losing games they shouldn’t and/or pulling upsets. With 26 teams still alive, the last three weeks should be wild. Let’s go!
