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AFC Playoff Contenders and Pretenders

By Mike Ferguson

Oct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Who are the AFC’s playoff contenders and pretenders?

Coming into Week 11 of the 2014 season, 11 of the 16 teams in the AFC had winning records, making for a very crowded playoff race. With over a month remaining in the regular season, which six teams from the AFC make the playoffs seems like anyone’s guess at this point.

Division leaders New England, Indianapolis and Denver appear to be locks, which leaves eight other teams vying for three total and two wild card spots. Here’s a look at which teams are contenders and which ones are pretenders:

Miami Dolphins

Record: 6-4 (2nd in AFC East)
Overview: The Miami Dolphins are hot, winning four of their last five. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill seems to be improving under new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor while the Miami defense has really started to make plays since safety Reshad Jones returned from suspension. Cornerback Brent Grimes has been perhaps the best defensive back in the AFC this season.
Prognosis: Contender. The Dolphins have looked very good in recent weeks and could easily be 7-3 or 8-2 had it not been for winning scores by Green Bay and Detroit in the final 30 seconds. Miami has trips to Denver and New England remaining on the schedule, but outside of that, the slate is favorable.

Buffalo Bills

Record: 5-5 (3rd in AFC East)
Overview: The Buffalo Bills have been fueled this season by one of the league’s best defenses led former first overall pick, Mario Williams. The insertion of Kyle Orton as the starting quarterback has given Buffalo a spark, but the offense has remained paltry. The Bills have a talented corps of receivers led by rookie Sammy Watkins, but the ground game has been a major disappointment.
Prognosis: Pretender. After a 5-3 start, the Bills have let second half leads slip away against fellow AFC playoff contenders in each of the last two weeks. Three of Buffalo’s final six games come against current first place teams.

Nov 6, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) looks on during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns won 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) looks on during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns won 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Browns

Record: 5-3 (1st in AFC North)
Overview: Starting veteran Brian Hoyer has turned out to be the right move for the Cleveland Browns and the Dog Pound could actually be playoff bound. The Browns are winning a lot of close games thanks to a ball control offense and an opportunistic defense. Safety Tashaun Gipson leads the NFL this season with six interceptions.
Prognosis: Contender. Cleveland made a major statement last week with a 24-3 thumping of the Bengals in Cincinnati. The Browns already have victories over division foes, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, and the remaining schedule is not overly daunting.

Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 5-3-1 (T-2nd in NFC North)
Overview: After a 3-0 start, Cincinnati is just 2-3-1 in its last six games. Quarterback Andy Dalton is quickly falling out of favor with the fan base, but he remains the team’s best option. The Bengals do have playmakers at the skill positions, but the Cincinnati defense has not been what it was in years past which is rare for a Marvin Lewis coached team.
Prognosis: Pretender. Cincinnati may be the reigning division champion in the AFC North, but over the last six games, the Bengals have struggled. Cincinnati tied a Carolina team that is currently 3-6-1 and lost to New England, Indianapolis and Cleveland by an average margin of nearly 25 points.

Baltimore Ravens

Record: 6-4 (T-2nd in AFC North)
Overview: It’s been a bounce-back season for former Super Bowl MVP, Joe Flacco, but Baltimore as a team has been largely inconsistent. Justin Forsett has made the Ravens forget about the Ray Rice fiasco while wide receiver Steve Smith has been a very welcomed addition. The defense continues to be the staple of the franchise as linebackers C.J. Mosley and Elvis Dumervil are each in the midst of big seasons alongside perennial Pro Bowler, Terrell Suggs.
Prognosis: Contender. The Ravens are too talented to not be contenders until the season’s very end. The remaining schedule is relatively favorable as well as Baltimore visits just one team that currently owns a winning record.

Nov 2, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs on a fifty-four yard touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-23. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs on a fifty-four yard touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-23. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Pittsburgh Steelers

Record: 6-4 (T-2nd in AFC North)
Overview: The Pittsburgh Steelers may be the most difficult team in the entire NFL to figure out. The passing combination of Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown has been downright lethal as Brown leads the NFL in receiving yards and Roethlisberger is second in passing yards. The inconsistent defense has been led by linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who ranks third in the league in total tackles.
Prognosis: Contender. The Steelers look to be contenders, but no one can say for sure. Pittsburgh has convincing victories over Baltimore and Indianapolis, but have given Tampa Bay and the New York Jets two of their combined three wins.

Kansas City Chiefs

Record: 6-3 (2nd in AFC West)
Overview: Since an 0-2 start, the Kansas City Chiefs are red hot having won six of seven. Andy Reid’s efficient offense and strong defense approach has resonated in Kansas City, but the Chiefs have been more explosive since the return of wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. The secondary led by safety Eric Berry is the best in the league against the pass.
Prognosis: Contender. Betting against the Kansas City Chiefs at this point would be unwise. The Chiefs are red hot and already have three road victories over fellow AFC playoff hopefuls and a thorough dismantling of New England, the AFC’s best team.

San Diego Chargers

Record: 5-4 (3rd in AFC West)
Overview: After a 5-1 start, the San Diego Chargers have been flat of late, losing three consecutive games. Quarterback Philip Rivers is having another solid year, but has been helped out very little by his running game. The defense has let up a great deal of late as well, giving up nearly 32 points-per-game during the Chargers’ skid.
Prognosis: Pretender. San Diego has lost to good teams in each of the last three weeks and have just one victory over a team with a current winning record. San Diego’s final five games will come against very stiff competition.

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