The playoff picture cleared up somewhat on Sunday with some teams suffering big losses (thanks Ravens) that dealt them big blows (again thanks) while others chances look very promising or teams received last minute signs of much needed hope.
The Jets are currently 9-3 with Miami, Pittsbugh, Chicago and Buffalo still remaining. For them the only real question is where they will be seeded when it's all said and done. The playoffs are a sure bet in some fashion.
The Ravens now a Wild Card team but if they win the remaining four games against Houston, New Orleans, Cleveland and Cincinnati and Pittsburgh loses to two of their final four, they can catch Pitt.- That folks is what my mom would call wish full thinking. lol
The Raiders are one of four teams tied at 6-6 and are two games out of the Wild Card. With Jacksonville, Indy and the Chiefs coming up, I really don't see them going to the playoffs.
The Chargers need too much help in my book for their playoff run. They need help from Denver (to beat Oakland) and then Oakland to in turn beat Kansas City to bring down the divisional records. Even then, with the Jets and Ravens, it doesn't look hopeful to pull the Wild Card spots.
The Colts well they just fell off the map this year. With three divisional games left, they have a chance to get back in the race. If the Colts can win the rest of their games they'd be 10-6 and 4-2 in the division and 8-4 in the conference. Plain and simple, they need to win the rest of their games (Tennessee, Jacksonville, Oakland and Tennessee) for a chance at the AFC South.- Good luck Peyton!
The Dolphins are done.
The Texans need to win their remaining games as well. (Baltimore, Tennessee, Denver and Jacksonville) They would still need some help from other teams such as San Diego losing a few to bring down the conference record.
The Titans are well and alive. They're only two games back in the AFC South. They need to win their division where they would be 4-2 if they win their remaining games against Indy, Houston, Kansas City and Indy. They would also need Jacksonville to lose at least two and then hope for a tiebreaker.
The Saints has a rough next few games against St. Louis, Baltimore, Atlanta and Tampa Bay. Regardless they're in good shape and with a win over Atlanta, they would have a shot at the division and possibly home-field advantage in the playoffs.
The Giants are tied with Green Bay so when the two teams meet in two weeks it will be a huge game for them both. A lose will be crushing for the Giants at this point not only for the division but for their playoff hopes.
The Packers have a tough schedule remaining (Detroit, New England, Giants and Chicago) but if they win them all they'll be in great shape and could be the division winner. If they lose they'll be in trouble.
The Rams would win the NFC West if the season ended as I'm typing this. They would also host a playoff game. The Rams also hold the tiebreaker over Seattle at the moment. They need to keep on winning and they still need to play New Orleans, Kansas City, San Fran and Seattle. Those are four tough games but they have upset so far.
The Seahawks need the division and that's the only chance they have. They still need to face San Fran, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and St. Louis and to be honest, I don't see them winning more than maybe two of those.
The Buccaneers won't win the division so they can only go for the Wild Card and that's not a total loss at this point. They need help from the Giants and Packers both losing twice.
The 49ers will have to win the rest in order to win the division and even then they need help from both the Seahawks and Rams losing a few.
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