AFC Playoff Picture
Last week, we wrote about how the AFC playoff picture was extremely messy with any number of potential playoff scenarios. As things turn out, the AFC playoff hopeful teams all decided their fate this past week, and with the six teams now being set the only question still remaining is the exact seeding. So what happened? And How will the seedings play out?
In our predictions last week, we said the final seeds of the playoff teams in order would go New England, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Oakland, and Miami. How are those predictions looking now?
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
As it turns out, the final six teams will be New England, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Houston, Oakland, and Miami. With Houston’s win and Tennessee’s loss this past weekend, Houston locked up the south division. Pittsburgh beat Baltimore for the north division title. Miami locked up a wild card spot with their win and several losses of other wild card contenders, securing the final spot in the AFC playoffs.
The only division left undecided at this point is the west which will come down to Kansas City and Oakland, and the winner will decide who will have the #2 seed and a bye and the loser with be the 5th seed and have to go on the road for the playoffs. Oakland will win the division with either a win or Kansas City loss. Oakland will have their hands full with Denver, especially with quarterback Derek Carr breaking his fibula this weekend which will end his season. Even if Oakland wins, it will be hard to imagine them making a deep playoff run with former Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin running the offense in Carr’s place. Kansas City will take on San Diego week 17. With a win and Oakland loss, Kansas City will win the division. The rest of the AFC is probably praying for Oakland to win the division, because nobody wants to travel to Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium in January, maybe the most hostile environment in all of football.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
For our predictions, we will stick with Kansas City winning the west. As a result, the final seeding will be New England, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Houston, Oakland, and Miami. The rest of the AFC is going to have their hands full trying to knock off Tom Brady and the red hot New England Patriots, especially considering the bizarre quarterback situations entering the playoffs. Houston has turned their team over to backup Tom Savage, Oakland will be forced to play Matt McGloin, and Miami is without starter Ryan Tannehill, with Matt Moore starting in his place. Can anyone picture Savage, McGloin, or Moore knocking off Brady and the Patriots? The only teams in secure quarterback situations entering the playoffs are the Patriots with Brady, the Chiefs with Alex Smith, and the Steelers with Big Ben. For that reason, those three teams have to be considered the three top contending teams heading into the playoffs.
Tomorrow, we will take another look at the NFC playoff race, after the Cowboys and Lions game plays out tonight. Who do you think the teams to beat in the AFC are? Comment and let us know! Stay tuned for more current sports stories. Don't forget to follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram @beyondthemetrics, and Twitter @byondthemetrics
