It's Christmas Day in America today, and five AFC teams already have a gift-wrapped box under the tree with a shiny new playoff berth inside. Who will join them as the sixth team? Let's take a closer look at the situation.
|
Seed
|
Team
|
Record
|
Div.
|
Conf.
|
|
1
|
New England Patriots*
|
15-0
|
6-0
|
12-0
|
|
2
|
Indianapolis Colts*
|
13-2
|
5-0
|
9-2
|
|
3
|
San Diego Chargers*
|
10-5
|
4-1
|
9-3
|
|
4
|
Pittsburgh Steelers*
|
10-5
|
5-0
|
7-4
|
|
5
|
Jacksonville Jaguars+
|
11-4
|
2-3
|
7-3
|
|
6
|
Cleveland Browns
|
9-6
|
3-2
|
7-5
|
|
--
|
Tennessee Titans
|
9-6
|
3-2
|
6-5
|
* - Clinched division title.
+ - Clinched playoff berth.
TIEBREAKERS:
- San Diego has the tiebreaker on Pittsburgh based on conference record.
- Cleveland has the tiebreaker on Tennessee based on conference record, but one game could change that.
So here are the five teams in the playoffs and where they stand today:
1.) New England Patriots. Clinched the AFC East title, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
2.) Indianapolis Colts. Clinched the AFC South title and a first-round bye.
3.) San Diego Chargers. Clinched the AFC West title. Can clinch the #3 seed with one more victory.
4.) Pittsburgh Steelers. Clinched the AFC North title. Can clinch the #3 seed with a win and a San Diego loss.
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars. Clinched the first Wild Card berth and the #5 seed.
It's that sixth team that remains a mystery at this stage. Right now, Cleveland still has the #6 seed over Tennessee based on their conference record, but the Browns do not control their own destiny. It's all on the Titans.
Why? Simply put, if the Titans lose to the Colts next Sunday, the Browns finish the season with a better conference record (7-5) than the Titans (6-6). However, if the Titans win, they both finish with a conference record of 7-5, and it falls to the next tiebreaker, which is record against common opponents. The Titans and Browns have four common opponents -- the Bengals, Jets, Raiders and Texans. The Titans are 4-1 against those teams. The Browns are 3-2. Hence, a Titans victory puts them in the playoffs.
There's one other matter to decide in the AFC, and that's where Jacksonville is going for their first playoff game. So the games listed below will have playoff implications. (No, the Patriots @ Giants isn't listed, because while it have great historical implications, it has no bearing on the playoff race.)
THIS WEEK'S IMPACT GAMES (All Times Eastern):
- Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts (SUN, 8:15 PM, NBC). Suffice to say, the Cleveland Browns want Jim Sorgi to stay on the sidelines all night.
- San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders (SUN, 4:15 PM, CBS). The Chargers need a win to avoid Jacksonville in the first round. They beat the Titans in Nashville earlier this month, and I suspect Cleveland is an easier opponent than Jacksonville right now.
- Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens (SUN, 4:15 PM, CBS). The Steelers will want to beat this team on general principle, but this will also be a good tune-up for the playoffs. Maybe they should focus on their run defense.
Click here for the latest NFC playoff picture.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-26-2007 @ 3:50PM
tobrien28 said...
I think the best shot at the Patriots losing in the playoffs are the Jacksonville Jaguars. They are a harder, better, faster and stronger team than the Ravens, but play the same kind of game. They have a punishing running game, a shut down defense (and a much better QB than Baltimore.)
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 4:14PM
Donald Asher said...
I agree Jacksonville is looking good, but don't forget that the Colts beat the jaguars twice with a ton of their starters out - and several of their star players.
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 5:18PM
Catfishdon said...
this is the playoffs folks.EVERYBODY turns it up a notch.jacksonville is scary because they can run the ball and they're defense will knock your head off.but being a bolts fan for over 20years .the key to the playoffs are running the ball and defense.and RIGHT NOW the bolts are doing just that.if rivers can not make any stupid mistakes(wishful thinking...lol).they have a shot BUT NE and INDY are the teams to beat.
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 8:38PM
toot35 said...
being a life long patriot fan all i can say is i think it will come down to pat an indy. and who ever wins that will win the supperbowl
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 10:38AM
Ken Mille said...
The play-offs are the start of the super Bowl run which I believe belongs to the Patriots and the coolts in The AFC and the cowboys and the packers in the NFC. However it does not matter who wins the NFC the AFC will win the super Bowl again
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 11:47AM
Phil said...
WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP FORGETTING ABOUT THE WORLD CHAMPS? LET ME TELL YOU ESPN ASSH--ES SOMETHING, YOU CAN SUCK ON THOSE CHEATERS YOU KNOW WHAT ALL U WANT, BUT THE COLTS WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING BEFORE THIS IS OVER.
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 1:01PM
Art said...
I think LT will have a sayso in who goes to the Superbowl this year. The bolts have been a notch beneath the radar , while LT has snuck in another rushing title. Also, watch for a guy named Cromartie to pull something out of a hat.
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 2:58PM
Barb said...
I agree with Phil. Everyone is forgetting about the COLTS We stepped up a notch in post season last year and havn't lost any of that. Look for the COLTS to take it all again this year GO COLTS
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 4:31PM
Tom said...
PHIL,
Christmas is over, you get no more presents!! The second place Colts won't even come in second this year, the Jags will, behind the PATS !!
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 4:43PM
Jans said...
I am an Colts Fan and I do believe the Colts can beat the Pat's, but if not then I want a NFC team to win. The Oficial's always Favor the Pat's and always have. The Ravens were Screwed by the Ofiicial's and other Teams too!!!!. The Pat's can be BEAT!!!!!!!.
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 6:33PM
David said...
If by some odd chance Indy beats the Pats for AFC championship(very unlikely) then the NFC has a very good chance of winning the superbowl. Dallas and Greenbay are just as good as Indy but not as good as the Pats.
Reply
12-28-2007 @ 7:17PM
hank said...
all i have to say is INDY
Reply
1-01-2008 @ 8:27PM
michael said...
wat the hell are u people talking about the patriots are 16-0 that means they beat EVERYBODY thats right they beat the steelers the colts the cowboys the giants they beat everybody and nothing is gonna change in the postseason so stop talking all this shit about the pats
Reply