When December began, the Jacksonville Jaguars were 8-3 and two games up on the rest of the AFC South with tiebreakers to boot. Three straight losses have changed things, though.
Now, the Jaguars are in a three-way tie with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans with three weeks left to play.
It isn’t just the AFC South either. The entire conference has become a horse race with no shortage of winning records pushing for playoff spots.
The Ravens entered Week 15 as the only team in the conference with double-digit wins. Now they’re even further out in front of the race for the No. 1 seed.
With only a Monday night game in Week 15 left to play, here’s what the standings across the AFC look like:
AFC South
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-6
- Indianapolis Colts: 8-6
- Houston Texans: 8-6
- Tennessee Titans**: 5-9
(*eliminated from division race)
(**eliminated from postseason)
The Colts inched closer with a 30-13 win against the Steelers on Saturday. The Texans did the same Sunday with an overtime win against the Titans. Then the Jaguars fumbled away their chance at staying a game in front.
AFC East
- Miami Dolphins: 10-4
- Buffalo Bills: 8-6
- New York Jets**: 5-9
- New England Patriots**: 3-11
(*eliminated from division race)
(**eliminated from postseason)
The Dolphins got to double-digit wins, but the Bills stayed right behind them with an even more impressive win against the Cowboys. If Buffalo can make up one more game, it’ll be a Week 18 showdown for the division.
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens: 11-3
- Cleveland Browns: 9-5
- Cincinnati Bengals: 8-6
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-7
The Bengals picked up a win Saturday and the Steelers got a loss. Before the Ravens play the Jaguars in primetime, the Browns inched closer with a come-from-behind win against the Bears.
AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs: 9-5
- Denver Broncos: 7-7
- Las Vegas Raiders: 6-8
- Los Angeles Chargers: 5-9*
(*eliminated from division race)
While the Raiders destroyed the Chargers on Thursday, the Chiefs still got some breathing room in the division race when the Broncos lost Saturday night. Kansas City then extended its lead with a win against the Patriots.
AFC Playoff Picture
- Baltimore Ravens: 11-3
- Miami Dolphins: 10-4
- Kansas City Chiefs: 9-5
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-6
- Cleveland Browns: 9-5
- Cincinnati Bengals: 8-6
- Indianapolis Colts: 8-6
In the hunt
- Houston Texans: 8-6
- Buffalo Bills: 8-6
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-7
- Denver Broncos: 7-7
The Chiefs and Dolphins both held serve with wins earlier in the day Sunday.
