AFC Playoff Projections As Of 12/14/21

AFC DIVISION WINNERS:

NEW ENGLAND 9-4: The Patriots got good news during their bye week when the Bills lost. They now have a 2-game lead with four games to go. They have road games at Indianapolis and Miami and are at home against Buffalo and Jacksonville. They should go 3-1, 2-2 at the worst. Winning the Division Chances: 90% Making the Playoffs: 100%

TENNESSEE 9-4: They got a win they needed by shutting out the hapless Jaguars 20-0. They lead the division by 2 games and own the tiebreaker with second place Indianapolis.The remaining schedule includes home games with San Francisco, and Miami. They go on the road to Pittsburgh and Houston. Winning the Division Chances: 90% Making the Playoffs: 90%

KANSAS CITY 9-4: The Chiefs have a one-game lead over the Chargers and travel to LA on Thursday night. They can put the clamps on the AFC West if they win that game. Then, they can concentrate on getting the No.1 seed in the conference. They have one home game left against Pittsburgh and road tests at Cincinnati, Denver, and the Chargers game. They should go 4-0 or 3-1. Winning the Division Chances: 85% Making the Playoffs: 100%

BALTIMORE 8-5: The Ravens are trying to let the other division teams take over first place, but nobody will take it. For the second week in a row, they lost, but so did 2nd place Cincinnati. They only have one road game left against Cincinnati. The home dates include, Green Bay, the Rams, and Pittsburgh. They have some work left to do. Winning the Division Chances: 65% Making the Playoffs: 90%

AFC WILD CARD CONTENDERS:

LA CHARGERS 8-5: If they can beat the Chiefs, they will be tied for the division lead and own the tiebreaker over them. It is all in front of them if they win, because the rest of their schedule is very winnable. They have a home game left against Denver and road games at Houston and Las Vegas. 11-6 is the worst they should finish. Anyone want to bet they get there? Winning the Division Chances: 40% Making the Playoffs 75%

BUFFALO 7-6: Of all the 7-6 teams in the hunt, most people think they are the most talented. But, they aren’t playing like it. They trail New England for the AFC East division by two games and their only road game left is against the Patriots. They have three very winnable home games left with Carolina, Atlanta, and the Jets. You have to think they will go at least 10-7 and squeak in as a wild-card. Winning the Division Chances: 25% Making the Playoffs: 75%

CINCINNATI 7-6: The Bengals have lost the last 2 weeks at home and missed a golden opportunity to take over first place in the division. As messed up as the AFC North is, they can still win it. They are a game behind the Ravens, but they have the tiebreaker. Their schedule has the Ravens and Chiefs at home, and road games at Denver and Cleveland. That is not an easy schedule for a team that isn’t used to winning. Winning the Division: 25% Making the Playoffs: 30%

INDIANAPOLIS 7-6: The Colts have four games left and a wild-card spot is what they are shooting for. They have New England and Las Vegas at home and Arizona and Jacksonville on the road. They will have to beat Vegas and Jacksonville, and upset either the Patriots or Arizona. Winning the Division: 5% Making the Playoffs: 30%

CLEVELAND 7-6: They got a must win over the Ravens last week to restore some hope. They have a shot at winning the AFC North as does every team in the division. Their two home games are must wins against Las Vegas and Cincinnati. The road game against Green Bay is a loss and a Monday night game with Pittsburgh could be a key win. Winning the Division: 25% Making the Playoffs: 40%

DENVER 7-6: The Broncos have home games left with Cincinnati and Kansas City and AFC division games on the road with Las Vegas and the Chargers. It is hard seeing them going any better than 2-2 with that schedule. Winning the Division: 5% Making the Playoffs:15%

PITTSBURGH 6-6-1: The Steelers’ still have hope because no one is taking charge of the division. They have four games left: Tennessee and Cleveland at home and Kansas City and Baltimore on the road. They have to win them all. Winning the Division: 10% Making the Playoffs: 10%

LAS VEGAS 6-7: Their chances are very simple. They have to win every game left on their schedule which includes road games at Cleveland and Indianapolis and Denver and the Chargers at home. Not going to happen. Winning the Division: 0% Making the Playoffs: 5%

MIAMI 6-7: The Dolphins are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. They have four games left and they have to win them all. The home games include, the Jets and New England. They have road games at New Orleans and Tennessee. Their chances are slim and none, but they are to be commended for not ditching the season. Winning the Division: 0% Making the Playoffs: 5%