AFC Playoff Picture: Six competing for two spots

[beach tribe]

There are so few teams truly out of the playoff race after 10 weeks. It's hard to count any team out of the desultory AFC South, where only two games separate first place from the cellar. That might be the only decent division race, but there are a total of eight (!) teams with four or five losses.

After diving into the NFC playoff picture on Monday, we are only comfortable saying three AFC teams are definitely not going to be a factor in the playoff race this season: Baltimore, San Diego, and Cleveland. It's a reminder that quarterbacks can't save everything. Philip Rivers and Joe Flacco are still in the upper echelon of AFC quarterbacks, but they haven't been able to save their teams.

So how does this AFC race shake out and what do we know so far?

Eight is enough

Here are the eight teams with four or five losses in the AFC: Pittsburgh, Buffalo, New York Jets, Kansas City, Oakland, Miami, Indianapolis, and Houston. We're going to just assume the AFC South is only going to send one team to the playoffs because any other scenario is too horrific to imagine.


That leaves six AFC contenders competing for two spots. Pittsburgh has to be considered the favorite for one spot because they are 6-4 and have the best quarterback of the group by far. Miami is the only team that we would rule out from that group because of their general malaise and lack of distinguishing characteristics. They are headed to another seven- or eight-win season at best.

That would leave Buffalo, Kansas City, Oakland and the Jets battling for one spot. Each team has real strengths and look better than any team in the AFC South. The Bills have the highest ceiling because of their overall talent, but the Chiefs are playing the best right now. Don't be shocked if Kansas City, once 1-5, is still playing for a playoff spot in Week 17.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...-for-two-spots

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by milkman

I fully expect the Chiefs to win out, then get bounced in the playoffs in embarrasing fashion.

Because..............
Chiefs.

Could you specify what you mean by an embarrassing Chiefs playoff loss. Do you mean lose to a team they should beat, get destroyed on national television, or blow a 28 point 2nd half lead?

Thanks in advance.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

Could you specify what you mean by an embarrassing Chiefs playoff loss. Do you mean lose to a team they should beat, get destroyed on national television, or blow a 28 point 2nd half lead?

Thanks in advance.

Well we've lost a game in which we didn't punt. We lost a game in which we had a 4 TD lead. We lost a game in which we missed 3 field goals.

I think the only thing left is to be shutout in a playoff game.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Well we've lost a game in which we didn't punt. We lost a game in which we had a 4 TD lead. We lost a game in which we missed 3 field goals.

I think the only thing left is to be shutout in a playoff game.

Did that in 92. We got shutout at San Diego 17-0.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

Did that in 92. We got shutout at San Diego 17-0.

Well, there you have it.

I can't think of a single embarrassing way to win a playoff game that we haven't already covered.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

Did that in 92. We got shutout at San Diego 17-0.

Yep. After being swept by the Bolts in the regular season that year.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by milkman

I do remember that Bengal team.

They were in their third year of existence, but they were the best of a really bad AFC Central division.

Virgil Carter was the starter at QB.

Anyone ever hear of Virgil Carter?

Yep. Cuz Im OLD as dirt like you...

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by TEX

Yep. After being swept by the Bolts in the regular season that year.

We swept them that year in the regular season. Felt great going into that playoff game I remember. Life of a Chiefs fan lol ugh.

[KChiefs1]

Chiefs are in excellent shape.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

We swept them that year in the regular season. Felt great going into that playoff game I remember. Life of a Chiefs fan lol ugh.

Shit, that's RIGHT! I got it backwards...Sorry, but I'm a moron and many here can vouch for that... Now I remember it like it was yesterday. I was feeling pretty good going into the game and then we were flat and got shut-out. It was like the Chiefs were playing in Jello all day. Couldn't get anything going. You're right - "Life as a Chiefs fan - UGH!" LOL!

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Well, there you have it.

I can't think of a single embarrassing way to win a playoff game that we haven't already covered.

Obviously the only thing left is combing all of those ways of losing into one game. If we blow a 4 TD lead and get shut out that will really be an accomplishment though.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Obviously the only thing left is combing all of those ways of losing into one game. If we blow a 4 TD lead and get shut out that will really be an accomplishment though.

I wouldn't bet against it though.

[Mile High Mania]

If the Bills lose When the Bills lose in NE, then the Chiefs jump into the #6 slot with a date in Denver for a wildcard game, should the season end today. If the Bills win, then PIT slides into that #6 spot.

That would put five teams at 5-5... no room for error down the stretch, for those teams.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Well, there you have it.

I can't think of a single embarrassing way to win a playoff game that we haven't already covered.

Getting picked by Butler at the goal line when you have Marshawn Lynch was a pretty Chiefs way to lose a postseason game. It just didn't happen to KC.