The NFL playoff picture is beginning to take shape, as we are now 12 weeks through the regular season. The AFC is going to be fun to watch down the stretch. The Kansas City Chiefs have just about wrapped up the AFC West and the Tennessee Titans are in control of the South, but the North and East are totally up for grabs.
There are several teams jockeying for wild card spots. Could all four AFC East teams make the postseason this year? Will the Cincinnati Bengals put together another amazing run? Let’s talk about this playoff picture as it stands now. Below, we will list the current AFC division leaders, and then rank the current wild card contenders:
Current AFC division leaders
These can change, but here are the top four seeds at the moment:
- Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)
- Miami Dolphins (8-3)
- Tennessee Titans (7-4)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
AFC wild card contenders, ranked
1. Buffalo Bills (8-3)
The Bills share a record with the current AFC East leaders, and are still the heavy favorites to win the division (-230 at Caesars Sportsbook). However, the Bills were passed over by the Chiefs this week as favorites to win Super Bowl LVII.
The Bills did not have a great showing against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, and Josh Allen missed several throws. His elbow injury seems like something that won’t hold him out of games, but at the same time, won’t allow him to be the same MVP candidate he was earlier in the year. With that being said, the Bills are still one of the best teams in the NFL on both sides of the ball, and are going to have a chance to make a run.
2. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)
Anyone else having deja vu? The Bengals are once again sitting at 7-4 entering Week 13, having won two straight games following their bye. Just like last year. The 20-16 victory over the Titans wasn’t flashy, but Joe Burrow stepped up in the second half, Samaje Perine recorded 93 yards from scrimmage and Tee Higgins “big-boy’d” Tennessee’s secondary — catching seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Shoutout to the defense as well, as they held Derrick Henry to just 38 rushing yards.
It feels like this Bengals team is ramping up — just like they did last year — and Ja’Marr Chase is on his way back as well. They are the reigning AFC champions for a reason, and may steal the division from the Ravens.
3. New York Jets (7-4)
Are the Jets Super-Bowl bound? OK maybe not, but they are much…
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