AFC Playoff race

justincredible Honorable Admin
37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 11:41 AM

The AFC should be a lot of fun to watch down the stretch.

As it stands KC and TEN are pretty much locks for their divisions.

The remaining 5 spots will likely be filled with the following teams:

BUF, MIA, BAL, CIN, NYJ, LAC, NE

How do you see the AFC shaking out for the playoffs? 

I'll post schedules later.


justincredible Honorable Admin
37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 11:42 AM

** reserved for schedules **

Kansas City
@ CIN
@ DEN
@ HOU
SEA
DEN
@ LV

Tennessee
@PHI
JAX
@LAC
HOU
DAL
@JAX

Buffalo
@NE
NYJ
MIA
@CHI
@CIN
NE

Miami
@SF
@LAC
@BUF
GB
@NE
NYJ

New York
@MIN
@BUF
DET
JAX
@SEA
@MIA

New England
BUF
@ARI
@LV
CIN
MIA
@BUF

Baltimore
DEN
@PIT
@CLE
ATL
PIT
@CIN

Cincinnati
KC
CLE
@TB
@NE
BUF
BAL

Los Angeles
@LV
MIA
TEN
@IND
LAR
@DEN

gut Senior Member
18,369 posts 117 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 11:44 AM

I'd say BAL, CIN and BUF are safe bets.

And I'll go with MIA and LAC to round out the 7.

Ironman92 Administrator
56,729 posts 168 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 12:04 PM
posted by gut

I'd say BAL, CIN and BUF are safe bets.

And I'll go with MIA and LAC to round out the 7.

Without looking at schedules, I agree


queencitybuckeye Senior Member
8,068 posts 121 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 12:05 PM
posted by gut

I'd say BAL, CIN and BUF are safe bets.

And I'll go with MIA and LAC to round out the 7.

Hope you're right on the Bengals, but the schedule is tough as hell.

gut Senior Member
18,369 posts 117 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 12:10 PM
posted by queencitybuckeye

Hope you're right on the Bengals, but the schedule is tough as hell.

Assuming everyone is heading into conference play, that's going to make it really tough for 3 teams to come out of the AFCE.  I don't think PIT or CLE pose a threat to BAL or CIN.

Unless your division has a soft schedule and a bad cellar dweller, it should be REALLY HARD for one division to get 2 WC's.  Well, if LAC stumbles down the stretch then I guess the AFCE probably gets 3 teams.

justincredible Honorable Admin
37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 12:16 PM

I think NE and LAC will be the odd men out.

justincredible Honorable Admin
37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 12:20 PM

Mike White running the Jets offense gave me a renewed sense of optimism down the stretch. Even in a downpour the dude was slinging it all over the field to 10 different receivers. They were 5-2 with Zach and White appears to be a MASSIVE upgrade so far. 

gut Senior Member
18,369 posts 117 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 12:22 PM

Will probably come down to tie-breakers.  I could see 10-11 wins all for CIN, MIA, LAC and NYJ.

CIN catches a break with BAL already having the division wrapped, and NYJ/MIA probably deciding that last wildcard spot in Wk18.


I'll stick with CIN, LAC and MIA as wildcards

Ironman92 Administrator
56,729 posts 168 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Nov 28, 2022 10:23 PM

1. Chiefs

2. Bills

3. Ravens 

4. Titans

5. Chargers 

6. Bengals

7. Dolphins


Dolphins schedule gets tough IMO….if they aren’t the 7, look out

Bengals going into Baltimore that last week like gut said….Baltimore already clinched as Bengals lost early in division.

I know these 7 won’t be all wrapped as the 7 going into the final week, but my projections they are. We’ll see if the Jets/Patriots can make it tight

Would be an interesting WC round


Watching Jacksonville….I think they are better than their record and the south stinks….Tennessee isn’t full proof

33,369 posts 133 reps Joined Nov 2009
Tue, Nov 29, 2022 9:45 AM

Browns get in at 10-7.

BR1986FB Senior Member
27,923 posts 126 reps Joined Feb 2010
Tue, Nov 29, 2022 10:05 AM
posted by Laley23

Browns get in at 10-7.

LOL, they will have the offense to do it but I don't think Watson's going to be able to cover up the defensive warts. The defense may be rejuvenated but smart teams will just run it up the gut with the horrible IDL play.

j_crazy 7 gram rocks. how i roll.
8,623 posts 30 reps Joined Nov 2009
Tue, Nov 29, 2022 12:38 PM

1. KC

2. Buffalo

3. Ten

4. Cincy

5. Miami

6. Baltimore

7. Jets or Patriots


I honestly like the Jets more with Mike White than I do with Zach Wilson. Patriots are the Patriots. Seems like they always find a way to win enough games to get in. But the Jets schedule has a lot more winnable games on it than the Patriots.


Also the Chargers D is such a liability that i could honestly see them losing every game they have left except the Broncos game Their offense is good enough to win a few on their own, but bad D and a suspect coach turn me off on that team.

BR1986FB Senior Member
27,923 posts 126 reps Joined Feb 2010
Tue, Nov 29, 2022 12:42 PM

What's crazy in the NFC is that if the season ended today, all 4 teams from the AFC East would be in. Who would've thought that would be the strongest division in the NFC?

justincredible Honorable Admin
37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009
Tue, Nov 29, 2022 1:48 PM
posted by j_crazy


I honestly like the Jets more with Mike White than I do with Zach Wilson. Patriots are the Patriots. Seems like they always find a way to win enough games to get in. But the Jets schedule has a lot more winnable games on it than the Patriots.

It's night and day. Zach made everything look so hard, even when he was playing well. Mike White made it look easy in a downpour (granted against a shit defense). 

Two of his four career starts he's put up great numbers. One he started out hot but got injured. One game was a disaster, but it seems like the fluke at this point. Given the defense, if the offense can put 20 points on the board in each game they probably go 4-2 down the stretch. I'm pretty confident Mike White can put up 20 in this offense. Even 3-3 is likely good enough to get the 7th seed.

j_crazy 7 gram rocks. how i roll.
8,623 posts 30 reps Joined Nov 2009
Tue, Nov 29, 2022 3:00 PM
posted by justincredible

It's night and day. Zach made everything look so hard, even when he was playing well. Mike White made it look easy in a downpour (granted against a shit defense). 

Two of his four career starts he's put up great numbers. One he started out hot but got injured. One game was a disaster, but it seems like the fluke at this point. Given the defense, if the offense can put 20 points on the board in each game they probably go 4-2 down the stretch. I'm pretty confident Mike White can put up 20 in this offense. Even 3-3 is likely good enough to get the 7th seed.

Seems like the other 21 guys play harder when White is in though. That is what I'm saying. Same thing in Washington Heinicke is the guy everyone in that locker room seems to gravitate towards and they want to put it all out there when he's in.

justincredible Honorable Admin
37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009
Tue, Nov 29, 2022 3:36 PM
posted by j_crazy

Seems like the other 21 guys play harder when White is in though. That is what I'm saying. Same thing in Washington Heinicke is the guy everyone in that locker room seems to gravitate towards and they want to put it all out there when he's in.

It's quite clear from the reaction to the win that the lock room doesn't really like Zach too well. My homer optimism is off the charts, but I've been burned far too many times to expect much. But this is a well built team that can likely win with a Jimmy G type of QB and I think Mike White can be that guy. 

I think the Jets match up well with each remaining opponent, though it certainly won't be easy. 

justincredible Honorable Admin
37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009
Tue, Nov 29, 2022 3:48 PM

justincredible Honorable Admin
37,969 posts 250 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Dec 2, 2022 10:23 AM

Pats road to the playoffs just got a lot harder. I'm seeing an 8-9 finish at this point.

33,369 posts 133 reps Joined Nov 2009
Fri, Dec 2, 2022 10:32 AM
posted by justincredible

Pats road to the playoffs just got a lot harder. I'm seeing an 8-9 finish at this point.

Well, they don't have a QB. And they are not very good anywhere else to make up for it. Bellicheck being amazing has kept them from bottom 5

j_crazy 7 gram rocks. how i roll.
8,623 posts 30 reps Joined Nov 2009
Mon, Dec 12, 2022 1:05 PM

Updated standings (week 14)


IN:

Buffalo 10-3

KC 10-3

Baltimore 9-4

Tennessee 7-6

Cincinnati 9-4

Miami 8-5

LA 7-6


In contention:

Jets 7-6

Patriots 6-6

Jacksonville 5-8 (only get in if they win the division)

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