Football: AFC Overview and Playoff Qualification Predictions

If the field goal plus favorite Denver Broncos win at New England vs the Patriots in the late Sunday afternoon tilt this week, they will be a near certain AFC one seed for the third straight season.

The Broncos are now three to two favorites to win a second straight AFC crown. They are beyond prohibitive favorites to win the AFC West for the fourth straight season.

The 16 team AFC includes 4 teams (the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Oakland Raiders) which have virtually no chance to make the playoffs.

The other 12, three quarters of the conference’s teams, have legitimate chances to make the playoffs.

At this near halfway point in the season, I will predict the playoff teams.

Though there are many contenders only the AFC North is without a prohibitive favorite. My predictions for the division winners are all favorites: New England in the AFC East, Cincinnati Bengals in the North, Indianapolis Colts in the South and the Broncos in the West.

The wild card situation is far more cloudy. My predictions are the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins to make it.

The other six contenders are the Buffalo Bills (quite a story to this point), Cleveland Browns (also a bit of a surprise), Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and already slumping as usual, San Diego Chargers.