AFC playoff scenarios, Week 15: Bengals, Broncos can clinch

Record: 11-2
Current seed: No. 1
Remaining schedule: vs. Tennessee, at New York Jets, at Miami

Where they stand

The Patriots are in terrific position. At 11-2, the Patriots are a full game ahead of anybody else in the AFC. New England also has a very nice schedule lining up with contests against the woeful Tennessee Titans, the enigmatic New York Jets and finally, the listless Miami Dolphins. New England will be favored in every one of those games, perhaps by double digits in two of them.

The Patriots are simply trying to get healthy, hoping to see the return of receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola in short order. This team should have an extra week of rest during the Wild Card round barring a total disaster.

What needs to happen

The New England Patriots have already clinched another AFC East title, but there is work to be done for the boys in blue. New England has the Titans coming into Gillette Stadium, and Vegas sees it as 15-point favorites. The Patriots could clinch a first-round BYE with a win and either a Denver Broncos or Cincinnati Bengals defeat.

Denver will be at Pittsburgh with either Brock Osweiler or Peyton Manning under center, while the Bengals have A.J. McCarron getting his first career start for the injured Andy Dalton.

Next: 2. Cincinnati Bengals