Interesting AFC Playoff Picture for this Early in the Season

aluminum seats · Oct 19, 2015

Looked at the standings this morning, and it struck me that—sort of unusually for mid-October, this early in the season—it seems like the AFC playoff picture is set. Division winners Pats/Bengals/Colts/Broncos, wild cards Jets & Steelers. It’s really hard to envision another team stepping up. NFC’s more open.

Anybody have a candidate for another team that could slip in there?

Uncle Rico · Oct 19, 2015

aluminum seats said:
...the AFC playoff picture is set.

Coach says you have to take a lap.

hambone1818 · Oct 19, 2015

Woah woah...jumping the gun a bit, imo. Jets haven't played anyone and have 2 against NE, 2 against Buffalo, @NYG, @DAL (when Romo/Dez are back). Broncos haven't played anyone and have GB, @PIT, CIN and NE. Colts have a 1 game lead and games against DEN, @CAR, @ATL, @PIT, @Mia (rejuvenated?).

I think SD, Oakland, Buffalo and even Miami (if they've pulled their heads out of their asses) might all have something to say before it's all said and done. Granted the undefeated division leaders are all looking good right now and Indy doesn't have any competition in the division, but this is far from over. Hell, I don't expect this to happen but what if the Jets beat NE this week, suddenly they lead the division with the other matchup at home. And Buffalo's stretch of games is relatively easy, minus @NYJ, @NE back-to-back. If they win one of those two they could be 9-5 or even 10-4 going into @DAL, vs NYJ (though I do NOT expect that to happen).

Long-winded way of saying a LOT can change.

Deus Irae · Oct 19, 2015

aluminum seats said:
Looked at the standings this morning, and it struck me that—sort of unusually for mid-October, this early in the season—it seems like the AFC playoff picture is set. Division winners Pats/Bengals/Colts/Broncos, wild cards Jets & Steelers. It’s really hard to envision another team stepping up. NFC’s more open.

Anybody have a candidate for another team that could slip in there?

I'd say that it's still too early to rule out the Texans and Dolphins, but that it already looks as if the AFC is down to no more than 8 teams vying for the 6 slots.

aluminum seats · Oct 19, 2015

hambone1818 said:
Woah woah...jumping the gun a bit, imo. Jets haven't played anyone and have 2 against NE, 2 against Buffalo, @NYG, @DAL (when Romo/Dez are back). Broncos haven't played anyone and have GB, @PIT, CIN and NE. Colts have a 1 game lead and games against DEN, @CAR, @ATL, @PIT, @Mia (rejuvenated?).

I think SD, Oakland, Buffalo and even Miami (if they've pulled their heads out of their asses) might all have something to say before it's all said and done. Granted the undefeated division leaders are all looking good right now and Indy doesn't have any competition in the division, but this is far from over. Hell, I don't expect this to happen but what if the Jets beat NE this week, suddenly they lead the division with the other matchup at home. And Buffalo's stretch of games is relatively easy, minus @NYJ, @NE back-to-back. If they win one of those two they could be 9-5 or even 10-4 going into @DAL, vs NYJ (though I do NOT expect that to happen).

Long-winded way of saying a LOT can change.

Yeah, it's definitely early. But I'd caution a little about the "haven't played anyone" thing, just because the league in general is so mediocre.

But you're right that a lot can change--in fact, contrary to my post, you'd almost have to expect it. I just don't see any of those teams stepping up in a sustained way.

mosi · Oct 19, 2015

What I notice is that the NFC wild card is a mess. Except for Atlanta all the other teams are terrible.

aluminum seats · Oct 19, 2015

Deus Irae said:
I'd say that it's still too early to rule out the Texans and Dolphins, but that it already looks as if the AFC is down to no more than 8 teams vying for the 6 slots.

The Dolphins are interesting--were playing SO dead. Amazing how guys will react to a coach kicking their butts.

Haterproof · Oct 19, 2015

hambone1818 said:
Woah woah...jumping the gun a bit, imo. Jets haven't played anyone and have 2 against NE, 2 against Buffalo, @NYG, @DAL (when Romo/Dez are back). Broncos haven't played anyone and have GB, @PIT, CIN and NE. Colts have a 1 game lead and games against DEN, @CAR, @ATL, @PIT, @Mia (rejuvenated?).

I think SD, Oakland, Buffalo and even Miami (if they've pulled their heads out of their asses) might all have something to say before it's all said and done. Granted the undefeated division leaders are all looking good right now and Indy doesn't have any competition in the division, but this is far from over. Hell, I don't expect this to happen but what if the Jets beat NE this week, suddenly they lead the division with the other matchup at home. And Buffalo's stretch of games is relatively easy, minus @NYJ, @NE back-to-back. If they win one of those two they could be 9-5 or even 10-4 going into @DAL, vs NYJ (though I do NOT expect that to happen).

Long-winded way of saying a LOT can change.

I agree with everything you said! San Diego is one bipolar team! Like take yesterday's game vs GB for instance! Had they somehow upset the Packers they would turn & lose to a team like the Jags next week!

hambone1818 · Oct 19, 2015

aluminum seats said:
Yeah, it's definitely early. But I'd caution a little about the "haven't played anyone" thing, just because the league in general is so mediocre.

But you're right that a lot can change--in fact, contrary to my post, you'd almost have to expect it. I just don't see any of those teams stepping up in a sustained way.

I'm with you there...my point is that there are some clear 'haves' in the NFL this season, and the Jets and Broncos haven't played any of them. They both have at least 5 of their remaining 10-11 games against those better teams. 'Any given Sunday' and all that, but the Jets could very well be a mediocre team that's caught an easy early-season schedule, would it be a shock to see them finish at 8-8 with losses to the Pats (2), Giants, Cowboys, Bills (1 of 2), and some random game like @OAK or @HOU? Denver has a massive cushion but their final 10 games are GB, @IND, KC, @CHI, NE, @SD, OAK, @PIT, CIN, SD, given the state of Manning's arm would be you shocked if they dropped 6 of them and wind up at 10-6?

It's odd to see so many unbeatens at this stage of the season. But there's a lot TBD this season, maybe a few of these divisions are all but wrapped up but the last 3-4 playoff teams in the AFC are still very much up for grabs.

Deus Irae · Oct 19, 2015

aluminum seats said:
The Dolphins are interesting--were playing SO dead. Amazing how guys will react to a coach kicking their butts.

Absolutely, and that's why I called it as too early. The next stretch of games

Texans
Patriots
Bills
Eagles
Cowboys
Jets

could finish off the Dolphins but, if Campbell can light a big enough fire under that team's collective ass, and they come out of that at a 4-2 clip, they'd at least have a chance.

I don't think it will happen and, even if it does, the final stretch would then be a tough one even with mostly home games (Ravens/Giants/at Chargers/Colts/Patriots) but it wouldn't be fair of me to write them off just yet.

aluminum seats · Oct 19, 2015

Haterproof said:
I agree with everything you said! San Diego is one bipolar team! Like take yesterday's game vs GB for instance! Had they somehow upset the Packers they would turn & lose to a team like the Jags next week!

Try the "." symbol at the end of a sentence sometime, see how it feels.

(I kid, I kid

)

BB4PRez · Oct 19, 2015

I get it is very early, but I agree with Aluminum Seats picks for the playoffs. If I bet (and I do not) I would put money down that those will be the top 6 teams in the AFC.

San Diego showed something in Green Bay even though they lost. It would not suprise me to see San Diego make a run. For all of his faults. Rivers is a top 5 QB in the conference.

I am not buying on the Dolphins, Bills or Texans nor any other team in the AFC. In my opinion all of those teams are to flawed to make sustained run.

varjao · Oct 19, 2015

If San Diego were not this crap every year, I'd say Denver is the team with most potential to a fallout like losing a streak of 6 games, but then again, San Diego will crap the bad as usual, KC is already out and the Raiders are the Raiders, so yes, Denver at 6-0 already clinched a playoff berth.

The Colts even losing yesterday show to themselves they can win games, so I expect them to win that crap division, I thought for a moment when they were playing that bad that they wouldn't make the playoffs, now it seems unlikely.

Pittsburgh is winning some important games in Big Ben's absence so they are in the hunt but Cinci seems much more solid. So yes I agree, looks like Pittsburgh and Jets are getting those WC spots.

goheels22002 · Oct 19, 2015

The biggest surprise so early in the season is that the Chiefs and Ravens have their backs against the wall. Both have to run the table to get a whiff of the playoffs. Those are two pretty interesting teams with coaches who have guided teams to the Super Bowl. I have not watched a KC game yet, but I have watched the Ravens and am stunned at how awful they are when the chips are on the table.

I am also surprised at how complete the Bengals appear to be. Two outstanding lines, good to excellent skill players, and good special teams. Their weakness, when the playoffs roll around, is Marvin Lewis.

Barring major injuries, it looks like Pats-Bungles in the AFC Championship game.

The AFC South is wide open in my view. The Colts are nothing special and as Roosevelt Colvin said this morning, Pagano is busy outcoaching himself. That is exactly the sort of situation that Bill O'Brien should take full advantage of if he can sort out his QB situation.

1960Pats · Oct 19, 2015

aluminum seats said:
Looked at the standings this morning, and it struck me that—sort of unusually for mid-October, this early in the season—it seems like the AFC playoff picture is set. Division winners Pats/Bengals/Colts/Broncos, wild cards Jets & Steelers. It’s really hard to envision another team stepping up. NFC’s more open.

Anybody have a candidate for another team that could slip in there?

Any teams 2-3 or better have a chance, and some of the 2-4 teams could get hot and make it too.

venecol · Oct 19, 2015

Maybe Buffalo.

Soul_Survivor88 · Oct 19, 2015

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