AFC Playoff Picture – Jets and Ravens Control their Destiny

The NFL playoffs are right around the corner, but there is still some things to be decided this Sunday.

There are a couple of things that we know for sure in the AFC.  First, the Indianapolis Colts have home field advantage.  Second, the San Diego Chargers are the 2nd seed in the AFC Playoffs.  Third, both the Chargers and the Colts figure to rest their starters this Sunday.  Fourth, the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots are the 3rd and 4th seeds or 4th and 3rd seeds in the playoffs.

The two wildcards are up for grabs in the AFC.  Let’s take a look at everything going on in the AFC right now.

AFC Playoff Picture

1st Seed:  Indianapolis Colts

2nd Seed:  San Diego Chargers

3rd Seed:  New England or Cincinnati

4th Seed:  New England or Cincinnati

Wildcard Seeds:

Okay, this is a mess.  The team that controls their destiny is the New York Jets.  Yes, coach Caldwell for the Colts kept the dream alive for Rex Ryan and the Jets by benching Peyton Manning in the second half of the Colts loss to the Jets.

Stupid move Caldwell because the Jets are a good team and now can beat the Bengals at home and get into the playoffs where they would play either the Bengals again or the Patriots.  The Jets can beat either team.  Then, they could find themselves taking on the Colts in the second round.  Uh…did you and no-fun G.M. Bill Polian think about that?  The Jets are 10 point favorites in the NFL sportsbook, by the way, to beat the Bengals this Sunday.

Besides the Jets, the Baltimore Ravens are in the best position to secure a playoff seed.  If the Ravens beat the Oakland Raiders then they’re in.

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Now, if the Ravens were to lose to Oakland, then the door would open for the Broncos if they were to beat the Kansas City Chiefs.

If both the Broncos and Ravens lose, then the Houston Texans would, should they win, get a wildcard.  The Texans can also march into the playoffs with a Jets loss and a Broncos or Ravens loss.  The Broncos can still get into the playoffs with a loss if four out of the six remaining playoff contenders, the Jets, Ravens, Texans, Steelers, Dolphins and Jaguars lose.

Pittsburgh can get into the playoffs if they win and the Texans, Jets and Ravens lose or if the Jets, Ravens and Broncos lose.

The Miami Dolphins can get into the playoffs if they win and the Jets, Ravens, Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars lose.

The Jaguars can get into the playoffs if they win and if four of the remaining six playoff contenders lose.

Which Teams Will Secure a Wildcard Berth?

The Baltimore Ravens will beat the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets will beat the Cincinnati Bengals.  With those two teams winning, the rest of the scenarios will become meaningless.

The New England Patriots will also beat the Houston Texans to set up a Patriots versus Ravens battle next Sunday while the Bengals will host the Jets in a repeat of this Sunday’s matchup in the other AFC Wildcard game.

Don’t forget to check the BetOnline Locker Room for Super Bowl XLIV expert picks and AFC playoff lines this coming Monday!