AFC playoff picture, Week 14: Steelers-Bills highlight slate
The AFC playoff picture has been insane all season long, and Week 14 has a litany of games to help clean up the mess going into the holiday season.
Time to start making a move. With four games remaining in the NFL regular season for each team, the AFC still needs clearing up both in terms of seeding and who makes it in. This week will go a long way towards doing so.
Here’s the AFC playoff picture looks as we enter Week 14 action:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
3. Buffalo Bills (9-3)
4. Tennessee Titans (8-4)
5. Cleveland Browns (9-3)
6. Miami Dolphins (8-4)
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
—
8. Las Vegas Raiders (7-5)
9. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)
Want $250 to bet on NFL Week 14?
Of all the aforementioned teams, the only one not playing another is Tennessee, which visits the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
While the games are incredible, the best have to be the Steelers heading to Buffalo for a date with the Bills on Sunday night. Pittsburgh is coming off its first loss of the campaign last Monday, and now tries to fend off the streaking AFC East leaders.
If the Steelers lose and the Chiefs win, the No. 1 seed is firmly in Kansas City’s control. The Chiefs would only need to split their next two games (at New Orleans, vs. Atlanta) before beating the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead in Week 17 to have the AFC playoffs go through Kansas City.
Read: NFL Week 14 Schedule – 5 Best Games To Watch
Speaking of which, the Dolphins are hosting the Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium in the early window. Miami is facing a tough slate the rest of the way (vs. Kansas City, vs. New England, at Las Vegas, at Buffalo) and likely needs to win at least two games. Beating the Chiefs would be a huge move.
In Vegas, the Raiders and Colts tangle with the playoffs virtually on the line for the home squad. Meanwhile, Indianapolis also needs to find a way or face the possibility of having to win out. With Week 16 looming in Pittsburgh, the Colts have desperations as well.
Finally, Monday night gives us an AFC North battle with the Browns welcoming in the Ravens. Baltimore needs to win and if it does, look out. The Ravens have the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants the final three weeks. As for Cleveland, the Browns get the New York Jets and Giants the next two weeks, setting up a potential 12 or 13-win season if the Browns can take down Lamar Jackson.
