AFC Playoff Picture

As we head into the final 2 weeks of the 2006 season the AFC playoff picture is still a bit murky. There are 3 teams that have clinched their division titles and a playoff spot. These teams are San Diego (12-2, AFC West Champion), Indianapolis (11-3, AFC South Champion) and Baltimore (11-3, AFC North Champion). In the remaining division, the AFC East, New England (10-4) appears to be in good shape with a 2 game lead over the New York Jets (8-6). New England will be the Division winner with either a win or a New York loss in the next week.

There are many teams still with a mathematical chance at the playoffs. They are listed in order of how they would rank as of today with tiebreaker scenarios and listed behind them is the teams remaining on their schedule. The top 2 teams from this group will make the playoffs.

Denver (8-6) – home Cincinnati, home San Francisco
Cincinnati (8-6) – at Denver, home Pittsburgh
Jacksonville (8-6) – home New England, at KC
New York Jets (8-6) – at Miami, home Oakland
Buffalo (7-7) – home Tennessee, at Baltimore
Pittsburgh (7-7) – home Baltimore, at Cincinnati
Tennessee (7-7) – at Buffalo, home New England
Kansas City (7-7) – at Oakland, home Jacksonville

Here are the matchups if the playoffs were held after week 15:
San Diego - bye
Indianapolis – bye
Cincinnati at Baltimore (winner plays at Indy)
Denver at New England (winner plays at San Diego)

We must look at these scenarios to see if we can use it to our advantage in trying to handicap the games for the upcoming weekends. As you can see all the teams that have been listed have a significant reason to play hard in week 16 because they are all fighting for either a playoff spot or for a higher seed meaning the could have home field advantage and first round byes. This means that all teams will be playing their frontline starters and giving a maximum effort in trying to win the game. This may not be the case for week 17 depending on how things play out in week 16.

The Cincinnati – Denver game will have huge playoff implications as the winner will remain in the wild card lead and the loser will face a must win game the following and rely on help from others.

Jacksonville would appear to hold their own destiny; however, they have 2 difficult games remaining as they host New England who is trying to clinch a division title and then travel to one of the most difficult venues in the NFL to face the Chiefs in the season finale. Jacksonville has struggled on the road this season.

The New York Jets would appear to have the easiest remaining schedule traveling to Miami in week 16 and then facing the hapless Raiders in the season finale. If the Jets can win both of those games they should be in good shape for a playoff berth.