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Updated NFL playoff picture: AFC has wild card logjam

By Cody Rivera

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 18: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball in the game against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 18: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball in the game against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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The AFC is currently loaded with teams trying to squeeze into the playoffs as wild cards, and it should make for an intriguing race in December.

As Week 11 of the 2018 NFL season breezes by, the race for a spot in the January playoffs is beginning to heat up.

There are interesting playoff scenarios all over the league right now, such as the shootout between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, as well as the race in the now wide open NFC East following the season-ending injury to Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith.

As December nears, the playoff picture will start to officially take form. Another intriguing scenario in place right now is the complete logjam of AFC teams battling for a wild card spot. With six weeks of the season still remaining, every game could be do-or-die for a handful of these teams.

We seem to have a pretty good idea who will be winning the four AFC divisions. But behind those teams is just an absolute cluster of teams clinging to life. The Los Angeles Chargers lead the cluster at the moment; they were 7-2 heading into Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.

The Chargers aren’t out of the conversation to win the AFC West. But it seems unlikely that Patrick Mahomes and the 9-1 Kansas City Chiefs are going to slow down any time soon, so a wild card berth seems like a more realistic goal for Los Angeles fans.

Behind the Chargers are the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and Tennessee Titans — teams that will all be heading into Week 12 at 5-5. Their season officially begins now. From here on out, they will be playing must-win games week in and week out.

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The division leaders in the AFC — Chiefs, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans — all have a little bit of breathing room for the time being as they push toward January. The really interesting plot to watch in the AFC will be which two teams can hang on and keep their seasons alive by clinching wild card berths.

This should be a very fun race to monitor throughout the next six weeks.