Nine For One
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Here is the deal, in the AFC there are really 9 teams vying for one spot in the playoffs. It is a fairly safe assumption that the Pats/Bengals/Colts/Broncos/Chiefs are going to occupy 5 of the 6 playoff spots, but that the 5-6 and 4-7 teams are in the hunt for that last spot. That means 9 AFC teams competing for the last playoff spot. Quite a scramble.
For what it is worth here is the record of each of those 9 teams remaining opponents:
Browns: Jags/Pats/Bears/Jets/Steelers combine for a record of 26-29
Jets: Dolphins/Raiders/Panthers/Browns/Dolphins combine for a record of 26-29
Dolphins: Jets/Steelers/Pats/Bills/Jets combine for a record of 29-28
Steelers: Ravens/Dolphins/Bengals/Packers/Browns combine for a record of 26-28-1
Ravens: Steelers/Vikings/Lions/Pats/Bengals combine for a record of 28-26-1
Bills: Falcons/Bucs/Jags/Dolphins/Pats combine for a record of 20-35
Chargers: Bengals/Giants/Broncos/Raiders/Chiefs combine for a record of 33-22
Raiders: Cowboys/Jets/Chiefs/Chargers/Broncos combine for a record of 34-21
Titans: Colts/Broncos/Cards/Jags/Texans combine for a record of 27-28
So....it looks like the Chargers and the Raiders have the biggest shitstorm to face the rest of the way with the toughest slate of opponents
And, apparently no one should be sleeping on the Buffalo Bills because they by far have the apparent easiest road to hoe....despite being only 4-7. They easily could be favored in all their remaining games except for the Pats.
Steelers and Ravens have to smack heads against each other plus each must face the Bengals.
Every single game the Squibs play yet is against a potential playoff competitor (if you include the Browns). Flying Rats at least have a supposed breather with the Vikes.
The Titans actually currently hold that last playoff spot. They have 3 tough and 3 supposedly easy games in which to prove they can hold it.
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Titans won't make it with Fitzpatrick under center. Raiders and Chargers look doomed with their schedules.
The Jets look to have a schedule that a playoff-worthy team should pick 5 or 6 wins up from. I can actually see the steelers winning a lot of those games.
Bills are already 4-7 and would need to win at least 4 of their games and I can't see that happening.
Dolphins, if they get their shit together, could make a run.
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Another factor to consider is where the games are played. I am bolding the home games each team has
Browns: Jags/Pats/Bears/Jets/Steelers combine for a record of 26-29
Jets: Dolphins/Raiders/Panthers/Browns/Dolphins combine for a record of 26-29
Dolphins: Jets/Steelers/Pats/Bills/Jets combine for a record of 29-28
Steelers: Ravens/Dolphins/Bengals/Packers/Browns combine for a record of 26-28-1
Ravens: Steelers/Vikings/Lions/Pats/Bengals combine for a record of 28-26-1
Bills: Falcons/Bucs/Jags/Dolphins/Pats combine for a record of 20-35
Chargers: Bengals/Giants/Broncos/Raiders/Chiefs combine for a record of 33-22
Raiders: Cowboys/Jets/Chiefs/Chargers/Broncos combine for a record of 34-21
Titans: Colts/Broncos/Cards/Jags/Texans combine for a record of 27-28
Though they have one of the toughest schedules from an opponent's record standpoint, the Chargers are the only team to have 4 home games left which could give them a big advantage
Browns/Dolphins/Bills/Raiders/Titans all only have 2 home games left. The others 3.
Ergo, my conclusion is that that last wild card slot will probably be either the Chargers, Jets, or the winner of the Ravens/Steelers game.
I guess my question is: Can anyone see any of these teams going 4-1 in their last 5 games? If so, which team?
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