Which AFC teams will make the NFL playoffs?
By: Chris Miles
Tags: USA, Sports Journalists, Football, Sports, NFL

Photo by HENCE THE BOOM on Unsplash

There’s a real litany of sport on at the moment — as someone based in the UK that currently has the ‘luxury’ of not working, I’ve loved keeping my phone on aeroplane mode and watching the full NBA playoff and NFL games in the mornings.

It might only be 3 weeks into the NFL season, but I’ve seen enough. I’ve seen the past, the present and the future.

Here are the AFC standings after the conclusion of the regular season. You heard it here first!

AFC Playoffs

The lucky horseshoe and the lucky number 7 combine for the Indianapolis Colts as they sneak into the playoffs.

For the first time since the motor car was invented, the Patriots won’t win the AFC East (ok it was only 2008, but it feels like an eternity). It’s going to be tight for the AFC North title. The Bengals will win some games, but not many. The AFC South is a three-horse race, but one horse (The Texans) only has 3 legs. The Chiefs might go 16–0 en route to the AFC West title. The LA Raiders will miss out due to head to head record vs the Patriots and the Colts.

Here’s a breakdown of how each division will go.

AFC East

The Bills look set to win their first AFC East title, and have their first home playoff game, since 1995.

Josh Allen’s ability to overthrow wide-open receivers in the end zone is more than made up for by his scrambling ability and Sean McDermott and Brian Daboll’s offensive scheming in Buffalo.

The Pats defensive is stifling and they’re starting to build a strong running attack, but I think they’ll lose enough games to fall into second place.

The Dolphins and the Jets are both garbage. The Jets more so #tankfortrevor …

Buffalo Bills New England Patriots Miami Dolphins New York Jets

AFC South

This is the only division in the AFC that I had any real trouble with. Although the Texans are 0–3, they had the hardest opening 3-game schedule I’ve ever seen, and the Titans are 3–0 but with a total winning margin of 6 points.

In fact, by the end of week 6, they could well both be 3–3. That being said, I think the Texans will have to win both matchups against the Titans to get to a winning record and to win the division, and despite a shaky start by Philip Rivers and the Colts, they’ll push the Titans hard.

The Titans get it done.

Tenessee Titans Indianapolis Colts Houston Texans Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC North

The AFC North teams get to play the NFC East and the AFC South. Lucky them!

I’m writing this after watching Lamar be largely ineffective against a weak Kansas City defense in week 3, but I’ve no doubt they’ll get to 13 wins without too much fuss. The Steelers will push them close, but I think the Ravens just have enough.

Baltimore Ravens Pittsburgh Steelers Cleveland Browns Cincinnati Bengals

AFC West

So we don’t need to talk about who’s going to win this division. Frankly, it’s hard to see who has a chance of beating the Chiefs. 16–0, anyone?

Before the season, I thought that the Raiders (along with the Colts) could benefit from the extended playoff format and nick the 7th seed, but I think head to head record against the Patriots, and the Colts, may be their undoing.

The Broncos have a QB crisis and although Chargers rookie Justin Herbert looks good, neither of them are likely to challenge for the playoff spots.

Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders LA Chargers Denver Broncos

Concluding notes

There you have it. The AFC playoffs are locked in. Feel free to hibernate until the playoffs.

There are a couple of things I’m not certain about.

Which way will the AFC South go? The Head to Head games will most likely decide this division Who out of the Patriots, Colts and Raiders (and maybe, just maybe, the Texans) will take the last two playoff spots?

Will = probably, possibly, might, almost certainly won’t…

This article was originally posted on Chris’s blog @ https://chrismiles.co/which-teams-will-make-the-playoffs-from-the-afc/