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1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
6. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)
7. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
8. Indianapolis Colts (4-4)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
12. Cleveland Browns (2-6)
13. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
15. New England Patriots (2-6)
16. Tennessee Titans (1-6)
Italics: Currently in wild card playoff position.
Bracket Scenarios: No. 1 Seed Talk, and The Texans/Jets Game Impact
The Chiefs have a massive leg up on the rest of the AFC thanks to a two-game edge in the loss column over the Bills and Steelers.
However, Buffalo and Pittsburgh both host Kansas City for home games later this year, on Nov. 17 and Christmas Day, respectively. They can take care of business and position themselves nicely in the fight for the No. 1 seed.
But the two-time defending Super Bowl champions are still in good shape. Six of their next nine games are at home. Two of the road games are against the one-win Carolina Panthers and two-win Cleveland Browns. Barring a monumental collapse, the Chiefs should be in the No. 1 seed mix to the end.
Meanwhile, Thursday was a brutal loss for the shorthanded Texans, who are notably without wideouts Nico Collins (IR, hamstring) and Stefon Diggs (season-ending torn ACL). Houston’s passing attack, understandably, couldn’t get going, and it’s fair to wonder whether the team is a step behind the AFC’s elite (e.g. the Chiefs, Bills and the AFC North’s top two).
At this juncture, it’s feasible that the AFC South’s victor could very well be the No. 4 seed, hosting the runner-up of the AFC North race between the Steelers and Ravens. That’s a tough matchup for Houston.
And it’s not over for the Jets, who would have been 15th in the AFC with a loss. Instead, the team has a pulse in 10th. A long road still awaits, but the Jets only play one team currently holding a winning record (the 6-2 Bills) the rest of the way. New York could very well parlay this momentum, go on a late run and sneak into the playoffs at 9-8 or 10-7. That’s the optimistic side, of course, with the other side being the Jets stumble to the finish of a disappointing year.
Thursday brings hope, though, and it remains to be seen whether it’s a dangerous thing or the best of things.
AFC North: Steelers and Ravens Race Once Again
The Steelers or Baltimore Ravens have won the AFC North a combined 16 times since the division’s advent in 2002. It’s very likely this season will mark No. 17.
The 6-2 Steelers are off to a tremendous start. If not for a pair of three-point losses, Pittsburgh would be 8-0. The team’s No. 2 scoring defense leads the way, but the running game has gotten going behind Najee Harris (744 total yards), and the pass game has fared well behind new quarterback Russell Wilson.
The only downside here is a brutal schedule in the second half. Pittsburgh somehow hasn’t faced a division rival yet, so six AFC North games remain.
That means two games against the 5-3 Ravens, two games against a potentially explosive Cincinnati Bengals offense and two games against a Cleveland Browns team that looks rejuvenated with Jameis Winston now at quarterback. The three other games are at the 6-2 Washington Commanders, at the 5-2 Philadelphia Eagles and home versus the 7-0 Chiefs.
Meanwhile, the Ravens stand as one of the NFL’s most perplexing teams. At their best, they look like the league’s No. 1 team, nevermore than when they crushed the Bills 35-10. At their worst, they’ve fallen to the 2-6 Las Vegas Raiders and 2-6 Browns.
But the bottom line is this team can go places with potential three-time MVP Lamar Jackson and rushing leader Derrick Henry pacing the offense. The problem is a leaky defense that’s 26th in points allowed, even though the team has solid playmakers in the likes of Kyle Hamilton and sack leader Kyle Van Noy.
The schedule isn’t easy, with six games remaining against winning teams. Five of their remaining nine are at home, though, which should help matters.
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