What is the current AFC playoff picture?

Unlike the NFC, there are clear front-runners in the making for the AFC playoff picture. Following the midway point of the 2020 NFL season, several teams are just a game or so away from locking up the division.

The real storyline will be based off the race for the wild cards. With five teams likely battling for three spots, each loss could cost the team a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. And unlike the struggling franchises in the NFC, any team could be 60 minutes away from causing an upset on any given Sunday.

What would the AFC playoff picture be if the season ended today?

There’s one team that remains undefeated in the NFL, thus granting the Pittsburgh Steelers the top seed in the conference. With their 28-24 victory over Baltimore, Pittsburgh looks to be perhaps the most complete team on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs remain a game behind as the No.2 seed with their 35-9 victory against the winless Jets.

With another struggle win, the Buffalo Bills improve to 6-2, thus taking full reigns of the No.3 seed. Josh Allen struggled once more, throwing for 159 yards and an interception, but thanks to a Cam Newton fumble, the Bills survived a scare in Orchard Park. Surprisingly, the Tennessee Titans looked as if they were a legitimate contender for the top spot in the conference, but an 11-point loss to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals puts them now at No.4.

As for the wild cards, this is where things become interesting. Currently, the Indianapolis Colts and their top-tier defense comes in No.5 after clobbering the likes for the Detroit Lions on the road. Meanwhile, the Ravens are now fighting to stay alive after a four-turnover outing from Lamar Jackson. Thanks to their top-notched secondary, they come in at No.6.

The final seeding will come down to three teams but as of today, the Cleveland Browns trump Miami and Las Vegas to return to the postseason for the first time since 2002. Then again, another struggle out from Baker Mayfield and they could continue to see their bad luck stick around for another decade.

To recap, the battle through for the AFC would go through the Steel City and they’d get the bye week. Kansas City would take on the bad luck Browns, Allen and the Bills will host Jackson and the Ravens in a 2018 quarterback draft class showdown while the AFC South battles it out. Expect this to change more than once from now until January.