Six weeks to go, who's your AFC six teams?

[Joey007]

And the Mariota and Flacco injuries, along with Tannehill's still being in recovery mode, make the next couple of weeks more difficult to handicap.

I honestly couldn’t make a pick right now.

Despite their mediocrity, Cincy’s tiebreaker over the Colts and Dolphins are worth noting. If Cincy gets to 9 wins, then there is a strong chance that they get the spot.

 

[supafly]

Despite their mediocrity, Cincy’s tiebreaker over the Colts and Dolphins are worth noting. If Cincy gets to 9 wins, then there is a strong chance that they get the spot.

I’ll be rooting like mad for them, that’s for sure. The more crap teams we can get into the mix, the better our chances are.

 

[maineman209]

With wins this weekend, the Pats, Chargers and Texans would all be one game back of the Chiefs, and the Steelers 1/2 game back, with 5 games to go.

Pats @NYJ
Steelers @DEN
ARZ @Chargers
TEN @Texans

 

[p8ryts]

I'd guess Chiefs, Steelers, Pats are division winners.
Chargers get one WC spot.
AFC South comes down to Texans/Titans to determine final division winner/WC spot.

I think the Colts have a chance to win out

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Division winners: Chiefs (1), Patriots (2), Steelers (3), Houston (4).
Wild Cards: Chargers, Ravens

FWIW, that's how I have it.

 

[maineman209]

No teams mathematically eliminated from playoffs yet.

Teams that are mathematically eliminated from divisional races (or damn close):

NFC West:
... Cards, Niners - each with 8 losses (Ram leads division with 10 wins)

NFC South:
... Falcons, Tampa - each with 7 losses (NOL leads with 10 wins)

NFC North:
... Lions will be eliminated with their next loss OR next Bears win (next games for both are on 12/2)

NFC East:
... Giants would be eliminated with a loss to Philly this Sunday

-----

AFC West:
... Raiders - 8 losses (KCY leads with 9 wins)

AFC South: (all still mathematically alive)

AFC North: (all still mathematically alive)

AFC East:
... Jete will be eliminated by loss to Pats this Sunday

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

1. New England Patriots 13 - 3 (WIN OUT)
2. Kansas City Chiefs 13 - 3 (SEA)
3. Houston Texans 12 - 4 (PHI)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 11 - 4 - 1 ( NE and NO)
5. Los Angeles Chargers 11 - 5 (KC and PIT)
6. Titans 9 - 7

 

[1960Pats]

Now that Cincy has dropped to 5-5 I think they're in a tougher spot

1 - KC
2 - Pitt
3 - NE
4 - Hou
5 - LAC
6 - TBD

The 5-5 AFCS teams (Ten and Indy) have an edge because they don't play any tough teams. Whoever gets the WC out of that division will most likely end up 11-6.

Miami at 5-5 has a shot if they can handle Indy at Indy this week but even then they have tough games with NE and Minny. They'd have to also win one of those to get to 11-6

The Ratbirds also have a chance but they'd have to beat two of the Falcons, Chiefs or Chargers on the road to get to the magic 11-6 record.

Cincy is one of the 5-5 teams but they have 4 games remaining with Clev (2), Denver and Oakland, with all but one of those Browns games at home. They'll probably end up at 9-7.

 

[Triumph]

The AFCS is death match division all of a sudden.

2 playoff teams will come from there. The other Wildcard is likely LAC as much as I never like to count on Rivers.

 

[maust]

Pats
KC
AFC Playoff Participant
AFC Playoff Afterthought
AFC Playoff Sacrificial Lamb 1
AFC Playoff Sacrificial Lamb 2

 

[1960Pats]

The AFCS is death match division all of a sudden.

2 playoff teams will come from there. The other Wildcard is likely LAC as much as I never like to count on Rivers.

I think Baltimore had the inside track until they lost Jump Ball Joe. They and Miami have the better conference records right now.

The only thing hurting the AFCS is that they all have to play each other. Somebody has to lose.

Miami could have an impact if they could go into Indy and win this week, which I think they could.

Houston will also have some say as they have home games against both Indy and Tenn.

 

[1960Pats]

Pats
KC
AFC Playoff Participant
AFC Playoff Afterthought
AFC Playoff Sacrificial Lamb 1
AFC Playoff Sacrificial Lamb 2

I don't believe that the Chargers will be a for anyone.

 

[maust]

I don't believe that the Chargers will be a for anyone.

(sigh)

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

1- chiefs 13-3 (loss @ seattle)
2-patriots 12-4 (loss @pitt)
3-houston 12-4 (loss @ Phila)
4-steelers 11-4-1 (losses @Denver and @NO)
5- LAC-11-5 (losses @ pitt and @KC)
6- Colts 10-6 (loss @hou).

 

[Deus Irae]

From the beginning of the season until now,

Patriots
Steelers
Texans (if Watson comes back alright)
Chiefs
Chargers (as long as they don't get too many injuries)

have been pretty safe bets. The question has pretty much always been about that last spot. That's where the fluidity lies. If the Jags hadn't crapped out, we'd be looking at the Texans and Chargers as teams looking to hold off wild card competition, but the Jags demise has given the Texans a clean road to the division title, and the Chargers an easier path to wild card one (granted that division isn't yet out of reach). The battles for the top 5 spots aren't over, but the fat lady is backstage warming up her vocal chords. So, barring some levels of collapse, we're now mostly looking at the battle for #6:

Titans
Bengals
Ravens
Dolphins
Colts
Broncos

The only surprise, and it's one that we can forgive ourselves for, is that Luck has bounced back well enough to have the Colts in contention.

Jets/Bills/Browns/Jags/Raiders are all out of it, absent one hell of a run.