AFC Review

Despite being trounced by the (10-3) New England Patriots, who were six point favorites, the Houston Texans with an (11-2) record still lead in the race for the AFC one seed. Now the Texans will be big favorites at home vs the wild card leading (9-4) Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. If Houston wins they clinch the AFC South, but a loss likely would cause the division race to be decided when the two clubs meet again, this time in Indianapolis on the season’s final day, December 30th.

The Patriots now have a realistic shot at being the AFC one seed but perhaps more important is staying ahead of (10-3) Denver (Broncos) for the two seed. Right now, by virtue of the Pats’ early season home win vs Denver, New England has a half game lead over Denver. Each team faces a big test this week, New England hosting San Francisco while Denver travels to Baltimore. Each team will be big favorites in their final two games. New England goes to (2-11) Jacksonville and hosts (5-8) Miami. Meanwhile Denver hosts teams with those same records, first (5-8) Cleveland (Browns) and then (2-11) Kansas City (Chiefs.) History has shown anything can happen especially since playoff seeding and not playoff qualification is on the line as each team clinched divisional titles on December 2nd. However, the team ahead after this Sunday figures to stay there.

Though dissipating a late lead and losing in Washington vs the Redskins last Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens with a (9-4) record still lead both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals by two games in the AFC North. All three AFC North contenders lost on Sunday past. The Ravens, who have games left at home vs division leaders, the Broncos and New York Giants before going to Cincinnati in the regular season finale could blow the divisional title and certainly hurt their chances in the “seeding” race.