With the NFL post-season race heating up, we break down the slate of games in the AFC. Which of Week 14’s matchups will affect the playoff picture?
If the season ended today…
1) New England Patriots (9-3)
2) Denver Broncos (9-3)
3) Cincinnati Bengals (8-3-1)
4) Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
5) San Diego Chargers (8-4)
6) Miami Dolphins (7-5)
Which teams have clinched? None
Which teams have been eliminated? New York Jets (2-10), Tennessee Titans (2-10), Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10), Oakland Raiders (1-11)
Who can clinch in Week 14?
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts can clinch their second consecutive AFC South title with a win over the Cleveland Browns combined with a Texans’ loss to the Jaguars.
Denver Broncos: The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot in two different ways, but it’s a tad more complicated than the scenario above:
1) A WIN + Baltimore loss + Pittsburgh loss + Cleveland loss + Houston loss or tie + KC loss
2) A WIN + Baltimore loss + Pittsburgh loss + Cleveland loss + Houston loss or tie + SD loss + KC tie
Week 14’s AFC game to watch:
Patriots (9-3) at Chargers (8-4): Coming off their first loss since Week 4, Tom Brady and the Patriots head into San Diego looking to increase the chances of ensuring the AFC’s road to the Super Bowl goes through Foxboro, where New England hasn’t lost since Jan. 2013. The streaky Chargers, who have won three straight since a late-October skid, are fighting to hold on to a wild-card spot after emerging from the pack last week following an incredible comeback win in Baltimore. New England has won four of the last five meetings against San Diego.
The rest of the relevant Week 14 games:
Steelers (7-5) at Bengals (8-3-1): Every team in the AFC North is at least two games above .500, with the Bengals – who have won five of their last six – 1.5 games up on the Steelers, Ravens and Browns. Sunday’s is the first of two matchups between these rivals in the final four weeks, games which will be crucial in deciding how the division unfolds.
Colts (8-4)at Browns (7-5): With some help from the Jaguars, Andrew Luck can lead the Colts to their second straight AFC South title with a win in Cleveland against the Browns. Meanwhile, the Browns – who are going with Brian Hoyer at quarterback over Johnny Manziel – find themselves in the 11th seed and in the thick of the AFC’s “In the Hunt” category with four other 7-5 teams.
Texans (6-6) at Jaguars (2-10): The Texans are holding on for their playoff lives, and they’ll need a little more Fitz-magic for any shot at playing in January. Thankfully a trip to Jacksonville to face the lowly Jaguars could be exactly what Ryan Fitzpatrick needs to build on his six-touchdown performance against the Titans in Week 13. A win in Florida and a loss by the Colts in Cleveland would make Week 15’s meeting in Indy an interesting one.
Ravens (7-5) at Dolphins (7-5): Coming off disappointing performances with completely different results, the Ravens and Dolphins meet Sunday in a matchup that could ultimately serve as a wild card tiebreaker. The Ravens will try to put an epic fourth-quarter meltdown at home against the Chargers behind them, while the Dolphins just barely squeaked past the bottom-feeding Jets after giving up 217 yards on the ground. Justin Forsett must be drooling.
Chiefs (7-5) at Cardinals (9-3): The Chiefs are in the AFC playoff picture thanks to a mid-season five-game winning streak that brought Andy Reid’s team back on the radar. Now losers of two straight, Kansas City has looked uninspired in losses to the then-winless Raiders and a crucial game against the Broncos. Heading into Arizona Sunday – where the Cardinals have yet to lose this season – getting Jamaal Charles involved early and often will be the key to victory.
Bills (7-5) at Broncos (9-3): Despite nine wins and two scenarios in which they can clinch a playoff berth, the Broncos are far from clear even within their own division. The Chargers are starting to get it back together and now sit just one game behind Denver with a Week 15 clash on the horizon. The Bills are winners of two in a row in which they’ve outscored opponents 64-13 and bring the league’s fifth-ranked defence (second in points allowed) to Mile High. Should Buffalo walk into Denver and upset the Broncos, the AFC playoff picture could be flipped on its head.
