AFC Report

On the season’s final day, with help from the Indianapolis Colts, who knocked the Houston Texans from a one seed to a three seed, the Denver Broncos gained the AFC one seed. Give the John Fox coached and Peyton Manning at quarterback team credit as they won their last eleven regular season games.

The New England Patriots will host a divisional round game for the third straight season after ascending to the AFC two seed. It will be the seventh time that the Pats have hosted a divisional round game in the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era that began in 2001. New England won five of the previous six and all five subsequent AFC Title games, all but one of those at home. New England won their first three Super Bowls but lost in their last two, both to the New York Giants.

For the second straight year, the NFL wild card round will begin with the 6th seed Cincinnati Bengals traveling to Houston to meet the three seed, Texans. The other AFC tilt will be the earlier game on Sunday with the 5th seed Indianapolis Colts going to Baltimore where they had their greatest glory as the Baltimore Colts to take on the Ravens. Both home team, higher seeds are favored but by less than a touchdown.

Peyton Manning