The Patriots loss didn’t shake up the playoff race that much. What did shake up the race are losses from the Jaguars and Titans. They drop off the list for now. The Browns are officially done and will not make an appearance here unless they can figure out a way to win out. Most divisions are two team races.
AFC East
New England Patriots 8-1
The Patriots enter the bye coming off a loss — just how Bill Belichick probably planned this whole season out. At this point, the Patriots should be shooting for 3-2 over their next five games. None of those matchups are easy. The Patriots end with a relatively easy schedule. In their last three, only the Bills are a real threat. Still, this remaining schedule could result in a missed playoff bye with any slip-ups.
Remaining Schedule: @Eagles, Cowboys, @Texans, Chiefs, @Bengals, Bills, Dolphins
Buffalo Bills 6-2
There are three probable losses on the Bills schedule. That would give them an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. Their defense is good enough to carry the team. The offense didn’t answer many questions against the woeful Redskins. If the Bills could steal a win against New England they may even win the East.
Remaining Schedule: @Browns, @Dolphins, Broncos, @Cowboy, Ravens, @Steelers, @Patriots, Jets
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens 6-2
The Ravens showed they were for real when they beat the Patriots, but they’d probably like to see New England back in Baltimore — and not vice versa — if those two teams meet in the playoffs. The Ravens have three potential losses. They will run the Bengals out of their own stadium this weekend. Their next three will be a nice test.
Remaining Schedule: @Bengals, Texans, @Rams, Niners, @Bills, Jets, @Browns, Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers 4-4
Some folks had the Steelers as an AFC favorite before the season started. That prediction wasn’t because of just Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers defense is for real. The Minkah Fitzpatrick trade is looking like a great move. Mason Rudolph has looked shaky, but he’s helping the Steelers hang around the wild-card hunt — although Devlin “Duck Hodges” may be a better option. The Steelers have seven potential wins on their schedule. That should be good to make the playoffs. The five or six seed could be on the line when Pittsburgh faces off against Buffalo.
Remaining Schedule: Rams, @Browns, @Bengals, Browns, @Cardinals, Bills, @Jets, @Ravens
AFC South
Houston Texans 6-3
Deshaun Watson will not let this team fail. Now the Texans entire their bye week with the AFC South lead and a path to a bye if it can somehow beat the Ravens and the Patriots. That’s not a bad option for Houston. The Colts, Broncos, and Bucs games are obviously slip-up situations, but they will be favored outside in every game except two the rest of the year.
Remaining Schedule: @Ravens, Colts, Patriots, Broncos, @Titans, @Bucs, Titans
Indianapolis Colts 5-3
The Colts lost a winnable game against the Steelers. Their kicking situation may end up being their demise. It’s kind of odd to say that about Adam Vinatieri. The Colts can get right against a Miami team coming off it’s first — and maybe only — win of the season.
Remaining Schedule: Dolphins, Jaguars, @Texans, Titans, @Bucs, @Saints, Panthers, @Jaguars
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs 6-3
The Chiefs stole a victory from the Vikings at Arrowhead. Harrison Butker kicked them to victory. They needed that win. If they didn’t come out victorious any bye week hope would have been dashed. Now Patrick Mahomes will come back and the Chiefs are in a perfect position to make a run. They don’t have a team with a record above .500 remaining on their schedule outside of the Patriots.
Remaining Schedule: @Titans, @Chargers, Raiders, @Patriots, Broncos, @Bears, Chargers
Oakland Raiders 4-4
Remaining Games: Chargers, Bengals, @Jets, @Chiefs, Titans, Jaguars, @Titans, Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers 4-5
Remaining Schedule: @Raiders, Chiefs, @Broncos, @Jaguars, Vikings, Raiders, @Chiefs
It’s a loser leaves town match when the Raiders and Chargers play each other this week which is they are combined in this breakdown.
The Raiders have been fun to watch this season. Jon Gruden has done a great job. They don’t have the most talented skill players, but Josh Jacobs is a bell-cow back and Derek Carr is playing well.
The Chargers should never be in the hole they are in, but they are the Chargers so this all makes sense. Now they have a healthy defense and a new identity on offense after getting rid of Ken Wisenhunt. They play the Chiefs twice so they’ll have to steal one of those games — assuming they find a way to beat the Raiders this week.
