Here’s one man’s look into the future at how it’s all going to shake out in the AFC:
AFC EAST
JETS (8-3)
Games left: vs. Denver; at San Francisco; vs. Buffalo; at Seattle; vs. Miami.
Opponents' record: 23-32 (.418)
Prediction: Upset by Miami in season finale, finishes 12-4, takes 2nd Wild Card
PATRIOTS (7-4)
Games left: vs. Pittsburgh; at Seattle; at Oakland; vs. Arizona; at Buffalo.
Opponents' record: 26-29 (.473)
Prediction: Wins out, finishes 12-4 to take the AFC East for a 6th straight season. And surprisingly, this is enough for a bye.
DOLPHINS (6-5)
Games left: at St. Louis; at Buffalo; vs. San Francisco; at Kansas City; at Jets.
Opponents' record: 20-35 (.364)
Prediction: Wins 4 out of 5 to finish 10-6, misses playoffs in amazing turnaround season
BILLS (6-5)
Games left: vs. San Francisco; vs. Miami; at Jets; at Denver; vs. New England.
Opponents' record: 30-25 (.545)
Prediction: Wins only 2 more games to finish 8-8; goes winless against the tough AFC East rivals
AFC NORTH
STEELERS (8-3)
Games left: at New England; vs. Dallas; at Baltimore; at Tennessee; vs. Cleveland.
Opponents' record: 35-20 (.636)
Prediction: Battles incredibly difficult schedule to finish 11-5, hosting the Jets in the first round
RAVENS (7-4)
Games left: at Cincinnati; vs. Washington; vs. Pittsburgh; at Dallas; vs. Jacksonville.
Opponents' record: 27-27-1 (.500)
Prediction: Finish 10-6, but loss to the Steelers in Week 15 essentially ends postseason hopes
AFC SOUTH
TITANS (10-1)
Games left: at Detroit; vs. Cleveland; at Houston; vs. Pittsburgh; at Indianapolis.
Opponents' record: 23-32 (.418)
Prediction: Finish 13-3 and lock up home-field advantage, resting key personnel in Weeks 16 and 17
COLTS (7-4)
Games left: at Cleveland; vs. Cincinnati; vs. Detroit; at Jacksonville; vs. Tennessee
Opponents' record: 19-35-1 (.345)
Prediction: Win out to finish 12-4 and is on such a roll that the AFC West Champ might as well not show up for their playoff matchup
AFC WEST
BRONCOS (6-5)
Games left: at Jets; vs. Kansas City; at Carolina; vs. Buffalo; at San Diego.
Opponents' record: 27-28 (.491)
Prediction: Only win down the stretch is against the terrible Chiefs, finishing 7-9 and missing the playoffs when they lose the tiebreaker to the Chargers
CHARGERS (4-7)
Games left: vs. Atlanta; vs. Oakland; at Kansas City; at Tampa Bay; vs. Denver
Opponents' record: 25-30 (.455)
Prediction: Sneak into the playoffs at 7-9 when they croak Denver at home in Week 17; subsequent rematch with Indy is no contest as Norv continues to coach “not to lose” instead of “to win.”
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS:
WILD CARD WEEKEND
COLTS over CHARGERS
Why: Chargers have no answers for Peyton Manning and Co.
STEELERS over JETS
Why: In a low scoring-game, the Steelers do just enough and Favre throws the inevitable season-killing pick.
DIVISIONAL ROUND
COLTS over TITANS
Why: Because last week, the other shoe dropped and the Titans looked like a team that is due to get upset in the playoffs.
PATS over STEELERS
Why: Because the Pats OWN the Steelers in the playoffs.
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
COLTS over PATS
Why: Because the shoddy secondary of the Pats will be torched by the Colts passing attack. And it kills me to admit that. But this would be one prediction I’m more than happy being wrong about (and if it does come to fruition, I’ll probably be picking the Pats to win as well … but for now, the reverse jinx is being applied).
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