AFC Playoff Race
by Gharl | 3 years ago | 0 Comments
My last AFC Playoff Race article was well received, so I’ll be doing another one this season. It’s much more crowded this go around as we have some newcomers in the Chargers and Steelers.
As of right now the playoff picture is this:
- Dolphins
- Chiefs
- Titans
- Browns
- Colts
- Broncos
- Steelers
IN THE HUNT
- Ravens
- Chargers
- Bills
Starting off with the 1 seed we got Byrd. Byrd is 100% a lock for the playoffs. He doesn’t have a very tough schedule down the road with only Chiefs and Steelers as formidable foes. The Chiefs are only one loss behind the Dolphins, so Byrd isn’t a lock for a first round bye just yet.
And that brings us to our number two seed, Q. Just like Byrd, He’s a 100% lock for the playoffs. He’s got a semi tough schedule coming up with Dolphins, Broncos, Bills all up on deck. I presume he will be fighting for the first round bye which creates for a nice showdown week 18 v the Dolphins.
Yet another 100% lock for the playoffs is our number 3 seed, Chan. Chan only has 1 over .500 team to play before closing out the season. He could compete for a first round bye, but it all depends on the 1&2 seed. He’ll be a force in the playoffs regardless.
aaaannddddd another lock for the playoffs is Ed and the Browns at our 4 seed. I’m not gonna say he’s a 100% lock because he does have the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals, So i’ll make him a 98% lock to make the playoffs. RIP Baker.
Now for the fun part! At 5 we have Julian, I heard he’s found the answers this season. Julian’s got a tough schedule to finish out the season as he faces the Steelers, Broncos, and Rams. He can drop at max two of those games (10-6), but he should really try to finish 11-5 and not 10-6. He unfortunately doesn’t have a shot at a top 4 seed with the Titans holding it down.
At 6 we have a new team this cycle in the Steelers. Zach has a veryyy tough schedule ahead as he the Colts, Browns, Dolphins, Chargers, and Ravens. That is truly a “sink or swim” schedule and he can only afford to drop two of those games… good luck Zach. No shot at a top 4 seed.
To top off the playoff teams as of right now we have the Broncos. The Broncos just recently got obliterated by the 3-9 Jets btw. Anyways the Broncos have a pretty hard schedule with the Chiefs, Colts, and Chargers. Sitting at 8-5 now, AC can only afford to drop 1 of those games. No shot at a top 4 seed.
IN THE HUNT
First up we got the Ravens with a good shot to make the playoffs. LB is 7-5 right now and obviously can only drop 1 more game. He’s got to fight an uphill battle playing Browns and Bengals without Lamar, then Bills and Steelers with him. If I had to pick an “In the Hunt” favorite, it would be LB.
Next is Mike and the Chargers. The Chargers are a new face to the competitive scene like the steelers and are sitting at 7-5 after losing a stupid lose to the Vikings. He’s got a chill next 3 games but has the Broncos and Steelers to close out the season. Just like LB he can only afford to drop 1 loss.
Lastly is the Bills who are sitting at 6-6. Codie is unfortunately looking at a very hard path to the playoffs as he has to go through the Chiefs, Cowboys, and Ravens (and the Jets if you think they good). The problem is, he can’t drop a single game, it’s win or go home for Codie. The Bills will be a fun team to watch.
And there you have it, the 10 teams who are all competing against each other to get a playoff spot. I’m very excited to see how this goes down. Who knows, maybe 10-6 might not be enough. Here is my playoffs seeding predictions.
- Q
- Byrd
- Chan
- Ed
- Julian
- LB
- Mike
Sent home
- Zach
- AC
- Codie
Big games to watch
- Dolphins v Chiefs week 18
- Ravens v Steelers week 18
- Ravens v Bills week 16
- Any of Steelers games
- Broncos v Chargers week 18
- Colts v Broncos week 17
- Colts v Rams week 15
Anyways I will not be doing an NFC version of this for obvious reasons. There is a familiar face missing from the top of the NFC tho.
