With only 5 weeks remaining and some inexcusable losses coming in week 12 who's still got a chance and how will the Playoff Spots Breakdown in the AFC.
Cruisin Towards a Bye
Indianapolis Colts
Likely Spot: AFC South Champs #1 seed
The Colts should wrap up their division this week and then cruise towards homefield as their remaining schedule is easier than the Chargers and they hold a two game lead and the tie-breaker edge over the Patriots. Once again I feel sorry for the person who has Peyton Manning on his fantasy team as when they hit Houston I fully expect him and many others on their roster to be taking the second half off cause they will have everything wrapped up and Tony Dungy will pull the I don't want my guys to get injured, but I do want my offense to lose all of its rhythm.
Remaining Schedule: @TEN, @JAX, CIN, @HOU, MIA
Fighting for a Bye
New England Patriots
Likely Spot: AFC East Champs #2 seed
Look at the schedule, how surprised would you be if the Patriots ran the table, or would you be surprised if they didn't run the table and snatch up the two seed. Where do you see a loss coming from? The Patriots will methodically win all of their remaining games while the Chargers will be forced to battle with their divisional rivals. The Patriots however will miss Junior Seau's leadership and play after what was a gruesome broken arm, if you didn't see it feel lucky it was pointing in the wrong direction. It won't matter though the Pats aren't going to lose to teams they should beat.
Remaining Schedule: DET, @MIA, HOU, @JAX, @TEN
San Diego Chargers
Likely Spot: AFC West Champs #3 seed
How could you not love the Chargers, they throw up a ton of points every week, they're getting their best defensive player back and are cruising right now. So why do I foresee them not getting the Bye, well the stretch of Denver, KC and at Qwest is deadly. If they get through those three game unscathed, toss me an LT powder blue jersey and some Marty ball and I will be firmly sitting on their bandwagon for superbowl champion.
Remaining Schedule: @BUF, DEN, KC, @SEA, ARI
Baltimore Ravens
Likely Spot: AFC North Winner #3 or #4 seed
The Ravens losing last night puts them in a spot where I think it will be difficult for them to gain the bye. Next week in Arrowhead could be the final nail in that coffin, but they will need to fully collapse down the stretch to succeed the division title to the Bengals and I don't expect that to happen, especially with home games versus the Browns and Buffalo.
Remaining Schedule: @KC, CLE, @PIT, BUF
Wild Card Frontrunners
Kansas City Chiefs
Likely Spot: Wildcard #5 or #6
Herman Edwards benefit in moving to arrowhead this year simple, all he has to do on offense is say, hand the ball to LJ. Its as simple as that, LJ go get me 150+ yards and a couple of touchdowns, it happens every week. They should beat the Browns this week and then their season rests on the back to back Raven and Charger games. Get out of that with atleast a win and they should position themselves in one of the final wild card spots. Congrats Herm.
Remaining Schedule: @CLE, BAL, @SD, @OAK, JAX
Cincinatti Bengals
Likely Spot: Wild Card #6
After the win last night against the Ravens the Bengals have thrust themselves into a great position to gain a Wild Card. If only their defense didn't collapse against the Chargers they could possibly pursue the division as well. Carson Palmer appears to be fully back in his 2005 form, hitting Ocho Cinco on a bunch of passes every week and spreading the ball around to his other guys as well. The biggest difference for the Bengals has been the play of their defense, if their defense can hold teams below the 20s the Bengals will be incredibly difficult to beat the remainder of the season, and postseason.
Remaining Schedule: OAK @IND, @DEN, PITT
New QB Same Success?
Denver Broncos
Likely Spot: Wild Card or Wondering why they switched QBs
If you were ever going to change QBs this was obviously time to do it, give the guy the most available time to gain experience with the 1st team in practice. I just don't know if going to a rookie down the stretch of a postseason run where you have two incredibly difficult games back to back is the best idea. Shanahan just had to finally realize that even if he kept Plummer in, they were just going to get bounced in the 1st or 2nd round anyway, so why continue trying when your doom is inevitable. Instead Cutler brings a question mark, could he be great sure why not, could he be a rookie QB that played at Vanderbilt thrust into a situation way over his head and fall flat on his face, sure. You have no idea, and I guess that is better than knowing your QB is going to fail in the big spot.
Remaining Schedule: SEA, @SD, @ARI, CIN, SF
Wild Card Longshots
New York Jets
Likely Spot: Out looking in at 9-7
As a Jet fan the fact that they are heading into week 12 even in the discussion of a playoff hopeful has me jumping for joy. And looking at their schedule all the remaining games are definitely winnable. Will they run the table, which is most likely needed, highly doubtful, will they fall on their face down the stretch also highly doubtful. Mangini and co. has quickly turned the Jets into a well coached and disciplined team and while the Giants appear to be in fighting across the town, the Jets are just quietly going about their business. Unfortunately for them the losses to the Browns and Colts, both could have been victories will keep them out of the playoffs.
Remaining Schedule: @GB, BUF, @MIN, @MIA, OAK
Jacksonville Jaguars
Likely Spot: Continuing to enjoy the Florida Sunshine in January.
The Jaguars are easily the hardest team to figure out in the NFL as I have been chiming in with this opinion since their first loss to the Texans. Their subsequent dominant win versus the Giants and loss to the bills only cemented this. Now they basically need to run the table to make the playoffs due to their poor in conference record which results in a terrible tie-breaker winning probability. Looking at their schedule they have three tough games remaining and that doesn't include the hot Dolphin team. The way the Jaguars are playing they'll probably win 4 games but lose to Tennessee and not make the playoffs.
Remaining Schedule:@MIA, IND, @TEN, NE, @KC
Cruisin Towards a Bye
Indianapolis Colts
Likely Spot: AFC South Champs #1 seed
The Colts should wrap up their division this week and then cruise towards homefield as their remaining schedule is easier than the Chargers and they hold a two game lead and the tie-breaker edge over the Patriots. Once again I feel sorry for the person who has Peyton Manning on his fantasy team as when they hit Houston I fully expect him and many others on their roster to be taking the second half off cause they will have everything wrapped up and Tony Dungy will pull the I don't want my guys to get injured, but I do want my offense to lose all of its rhythm.
Remaining Schedule: @TEN, @JAX, CIN, @HOU, MIA
Fighting for a Bye
New England Patriots
Likely Spot: AFC East Champs #2 seed
Look at the schedule, how surprised would you be if the Patriots ran the table, or would you be surprised if they didn't run the table and snatch up the two seed. Where do you see a loss coming from? The Patriots will methodically win all of their remaining games while the Chargers will be forced to battle with their divisional rivals. The Patriots however will miss Junior Seau's leadership and play after what was a gruesome broken arm, if you didn't see it feel lucky it was pointing in the wrong direction. It won't matter though the Pats aren't going to lose to teams they should beat.
Remaining Schedule: DET, @MIA, HOU, @JAX, @TEN
San Diego Chargers
Likely Spot: AFC West Champs #3 seed
How could you not love the Chargers, they throw up a ton of points every week, they're getting their best defensive player back and are cruising right now. So why do I foresee them not getting the Bye, well the stretch of Denver, KC and at Qwest is deadly. If they get through those three game unscathed, toss me an LT powder blue jersey and some Marty ball and I will be firmly sitting on their bandwagon for superbowl champion.
Remaining Schedule: @BUF, DEN, KC, @SEA, ARI
Baltimore Ravens
Likely Spot: AFC North Winner #3 or #4 seed
The Ravens losing last night puts them in a spot where I think it will be difficult for them to gain the bye. Next week in Arrowhead could be the final nail in that coffin, but they will need to fully collapse down the stretch to succeed the division title to the Bengals and I don't expect that to happen, especially with home games versus the Browns and Buffalo.
Remaining Schedule: @KC, CLE, @PIT, BUF
Wild Card Frontrunners
Kansas City Chiefs
Likely Spot: Wildcard #5 or #6
Herman Edwards benefit in moving to arrowhead this year simple, all he has to do on offense is say, hand the ball to LJ. Its as simple as that, LJ go get me 150+ yards and a couple of touchdowns, it happens every week. They should beat the Browns this week and then their season rests on the back to back Raven and Charger games. Get out of that with atleast a win and they should position themselves in one of the final wild card spots. Congrats Herm.
Remaining Schedule: @CLE, BAL, @SD, @OAK, JAX
Cincinatti Bengals
Likely Spot: Wild Card #6
After the win last night against the Ravens the Bengals have thrust themselves into a great position to gain a Wild Card. If only their defense didn't collapse against the Chargers they could possibly pursue the division as well. Carson Palmer appears to be fully back in his 2005 form, hitting Ocho Cinco on a bunch of passes every week and spreading the ball around to his other guys as well. The biggest difference for the Bengals has been the play of their defense, if their defense can hold teams below the 20s the Bengals will be incredibly difficult to beat the remainder of the season, and postseason.
Remaining Schedule: OAK @IND, @DEN, PITT
New QB Same Success?
Denver Broncos
Likely Spot: Wild Card or Wondering why they switched QBs
If you were ever going to change QBs this was obviously time to do it, give the guy the most available time to gain experience with the 1st team in practice. I just don't know if going to a rookie down the stretch of a postseason run where you have two incredibly difficult games back to back is the best idea. Shanahan just had to finally realize that even if he kept Plummer in, they were just going to get bounced in the 1st or 2nd round anyway, so why continue trying when your doom is inevitable. Instead Cutler brings a question mark, could he be great sure why not, could he be a rookie QB that played at Vanderbilt thrust into a situation way over his head and fall flat on his face, sure. You have no idea, and I guess that is better than knowing your QB is going to fail in the big spot.
Remaining Schedule: SEA, @SD, @ARI, CIN, SF
Wild Card Longshots
New York Jets
Likely Spot: Out looking in at 9-7
As a Jet fan the fact that they are heading into week 12 even in the discussion of a playoff hopeful has me jumping for joy. And looking at their schedule all the remaining games are definitely winnable. Will they run the table, which is most likely needed, highly doubtful, will they fall on their face down the stretch also highly doubtful. Mangini and co. has quickly turned the Jets into a well coached and disciplined team and while the Giants appear to be in fighting across the town, the Jets are just quietly going about their business. Unfortunately for them the losses to the Browns and Colts, both could have been victories will keep them out of the playoffs.
Remaining Schedule: @GB, BUF, @MIN, @MIA, OAK
Jacksonville Jaguars
Likely Spot: Continuing to enjoy the Florida Sunshine in January.
The Jaguars are easily the hardest team to figure out in the NFL as I have been chiming in with this opinion since their first loss to the Texans. Their subsequent dominant win versus the Giants and loss to the bills only cemented this. Now they basically need to run the table to make the playoffs due to their poor in conference record which results in a terrible tie-breaker winning probability. Looking at their schedule they have three tough games remaining and that doesn't include the hot Dolphin team. The way the Jaguars are playing they'll probably win 4 games but lose to Tennessee and not make the playoffs.
Remaining Schedule:@MIA, IND, @TEN, NE, @KC
Comments