The AFC has two interesting playoff races that don’t have to do with the divisions — because the division races have pretty clear paths. The competition for a first-round bye currently has three teams with clear paths: New England, Baltimore, and Houston. The other interesting thing to look at is the race of the for the wild cards. Buffalo, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Oakland are all vying for two spots with the Titans, Chargers, and maybe the Browns looking frisky if they can run the table.
AFC East
New England Patriots 8-1
This is the toughest stretch of the Patriots season. They should be hoping to go 3-1 over their next four games. A 2-2 record will put the top seed in the AFC at risk — especially if one of those losses is to Houston which is entirely possible. New England should be able to get right the last three games of the season. They should be hoping that the Dolphins game doesn’t matter.
Remaining Schedule: @Eagles, Cowboys, @Texans, Chiefs, @Bengals, Bills, Dolphins
Buffalo Bills 6-3
The Bills looked like they could cruise to 11 wins this season. Now they could be in trouble. They will be underdogs against the Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, and Patriots. If they lose all those games, the best they can finish is 9-7. They shouldn’t want to rely on tiebreakers to get them into the playoffs.
Remaining Schedule: @Dolphins, Broncos, @Cowboys, Ravens, @Steelers, @Patriots, Jets
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens 7-2
Baltimore plays in the game of the week when they host the Texans on Sunday. That starts off a three-game stretch for Baltimore that could decide whether they land the top seed in the AFC or whether they have to play in the first round. The Bills, Jets, and Browns games should provide a bit of an easier road. The Steelers may be playing for their playoff life that last week of the season.
Remaining Schedule: Texans, @Rams, Niners, @Bills, Jets, @Browns, Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers 5-4
Pittsburgh plays Cleveland two times in their next three games. If they can take one of them they should enter the Bills matchup with a 8-5 record. That game could decided a wild card tiebreaker.
Remaining Schedule: @Browns, @Bengals, Browns, @Cardinals, Bills, @Jets, @Ravens
AFC South
Houston Texans 6-3
The Texans have a path to the top seed in the AFC. They need to hope the Patriots slip up and make sure that they beat New England when they host them in three weeks. They also need to beat the Ravens this week. Win out or make sure they only drop one game outside of those two big matchups.
Remaining Schedule: @Ravens, Colts, Patriots, Broncos, @Titans, @Bucs, Titans
Indianapolis Colts 5-4
Indianapolis plays to the level of their competition which should be scary. There’s simply no margin of error for the Colts. They have four division games in their last season and see the Jaguars twice. They’ll need to sneak in a win against the Texans, Saints or Panthers to make the playoffs.
Remaining Schedule: Jaguars, @Texans, Titans, @Bucs, @Saints, Panthers, @Jaguars
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs 6-4
The Chiefs could deal fatal blows to the Chargers and Raiders playoff hopes with victories in the next two weeks. They will then get the Patriots. Kansas City probably needs to win out if it wants a bye in the playoffs.
Remaining Schedule: @Chargers, Raiders, @Patriots, Broncos, @Bears, Chargers
Oakland Raiders 5-4
Remaining Games: Bengals, @Jets, @Chiefs, Titans, Jaguars, @Chargers, Broncos
The Raiders could realistically — and should be — 7-4 coming into their game against the Chiefs in Kansas City. No one thought they would be where they are right now. Even if the Raiders were to lose that game and drop to 7-5 a 2-2 record in their final four games could put them in position for a wild card.
