AFC playoff picture, Week 18: Raiders VS Chargers looms
The AFC playoff picture has ample intrigue with all seven seeds still unsettled. Plus, the Raiders and Chargers play to get in.
With a quick look at the AFC playoff picture, this is where things sit entering the final week of the regular season:
1. Tennessee Titans (11-5)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)
4. Buffalo Bills (10-6)
5. New England Patriots (10-6)
6. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
7. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
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8. Las Vegas Raiders (9-7)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1)
10. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
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Of any game this weekend across both conferences, it’s the Raiders welcoming in the Chargers which has the most intrigue. The old AFL rivals will square off on Sunday night, with the winner moving onto the playoffs. If Los Angeles loses, it’s out of the race. If Las Vegas loses, there’s a scenario it can in, but would need the Colts losing to the two-win Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Raiders will likely find their way into the postseason after winning four straight, making them an interesting opponent for a division winner in the first round.
Elsewhere, the Chiefs are kicking off Week 18 against the Denver Broncos. Denver has been out of the picture for a few weeks and will host Kansas City without a litany of important players including corners Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby, along with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and guard Dalton Risner. If the Chiefs win, they’re at least the No. 2 seed.
Kansas City can move into the top spot with a loss from the Titans, who are visiting the Houston Texans. While this appears a mismatch, Houston clobbered the Chargers at home two weeks ago and beat Tennessee in Nashville earlier this year. With a win, though, the Titans have home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs.
Read: NFC Playoff Picture, Week 18 – 49ers, Saints Fight For Spot
In the AFC East, the Bills only need to beat the New York Jets at home to secure the division crown. With a victory, Buffalo can move up as high as the second seed based on other results. It appears likely it would at least get to the No. 3 seed, with the Bengals likely resting most of their impact players against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
If the Bills somehow lose, the Patriots can win the division by beating the Miami Dolphins on South Beach. If New England loses, it can drop to the No. 7 seed but it has already clinched a postseason berth.
Finally, the Colts can clinch a playoff berth with a win. If they’re victorious over Jacksonville, the Ravens and Steelers are eliminated.
