The 2008 NFL season in the American Football Conference can be summed up in one word: parity. This year we've got 13 of the 16 teams in the conference within two games of locking up a playoff spot. With eight games left to play for most teams, two games is hardly a big lead as we move into the second half of the season. SportsGamer's taken the liberty of breaking down each team's playoff chances right now, as well as predicting what six teams will ultimately make it in the end.
AFC East
| Remaining Schedule: Buf, NYJ, @Mia, Pit, @Sea, @Oak, Ari, @Buf The New England Patriots may have lost Tom Brady, but they still come to play almost every Sunday (excluding games against Miami and San Diego). The Patriots probably have the easiest road the rest of the way because the four toughest teams they play all have to go to Foxboro. The Bills are the one team that has the potential to unseat New England as division champs because they get them twice in the final eight games. Still, I see the patriots repeating in the end and grabbing the #2 seed in the playoffs. Current Record - 5-3 / Projected Finish - 11-5 |
| Remaining Schedule: Stl, @NE, @Ten, Den, @SF, Buf, @Sea, Mia The New York Jets have a favorable schedule the rest of the way as well. However, they are only team in the AFC East that still has to go to Tennessee. I like the Jets to finish second mainly because of last week's win at Buffalo. I think that win, combined with a second win over the Bills at home will be the difference on why the Jets will be the team to lock down one of the two Wildcard spots and not the Bills. Current Record - 5-3 / Projected Finish - 10-6 |
| Remaining Schedule: @NE, Cle, @KC, SF, Mia, @NYJ, @Den, NE The Buffalo Bills don't have a game on the rest of their schedule that they can't win. Unfortunately, they're playing worse than they have all season right now. I think the games at New England, at Denver, and at New York will be the determining factor on whether they get in or not. If the Bills steal one of these three road games, then I expect to see Buffalo back in postseason play. Current Record - 5-3 / Projected Finish - 10-6 |
| Remaining Schedule: Sea, Oak, NE, @Stl, @Buf, SF, @KC, @NYJ The Miami Dolphins have been a great story so far this season after a 1-15 record a year ago. However, I think this team is playing about as well as they can and they're just sitting at 4-4. I expect the defense to remain top notch the rest of the season, but I think opposing defenses will catch on to the Wildcat formation and begin to make it much harder for this group to put up enough points to consistently win. Current Record - 4-4 / Projected Finish - 8-8 |
AFC North
| Remaining Schedule: @Chi, @Jac, NYJ, @Det, Cle, @Hou, Pit, @Ind The Tennessee Titans can basically switch to cruise control the rest of the season. I think it's going to take at least five loses in their final eight games for them to lose the homefield advantage throughout the entire playoffs. Fortunately, with a defense as strong as theirs I don't see that happening. The Titans will lose one of their next two games, with a likely slip-up or two at the end as they turn their focus towards the postseason. Current Record - 8-0 / Projected Finish - 13-3 |
| Remaining Schedule: @Pit, Hou, @SD, @Cle, Cin, Det, @Jac, Ten The Indianapolis Colts are a hard team to project. The Colts' schedule isn't favorable at all, but can we really see playoff football without Peyton Manning? That's like watching playoff baseball without the Yankees, it just doesn't happen. Uh wait,...nevermind. Still, I like Indianapolis to win all four of their final home games, as well as steal two games on the road to get them into the postseason as the #6 and final Wildcard Spot. Remember, both teh Pittsburgh Steelers and the NY Giants recently won the Super Bowl as the six seed. Current Record - 4-4 / Projected Finish - 10-6 |
| Remaining Schedule: @Det, Ten, Min, @Hou, @Chi, GB, Ind, @Bal What happened to the Jacksonville jaguars this season? Where is that toughness we saw just a year ago on defense? The Jags do have most of the tougher games left on their schedule at home, but I fear that anything short of winning seven of their last eight games won't be enough to get them in the playoffs. Jacksonville fans can at least get excited about the growth of wide receiver Matt Jones as they prepare for next season. Current Record - 3-5 / Projected Finish - 7-9 |
| Remaining Schedule: Bal, @Ind, @Cle, Jac, @GB, Ten, @Oak, Chi The Houston Texans are a team with a ton of potential, but a slow start and a recent injury to starting quarterback Matt Schaub has this team on the ropes at the halfway point. I know some people say backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels is good, but not good enough to get this team rolling into the playoffs. Next season we should see the Texans much closer to the top of this division. Current Record - 3-5 / Projected Finish - 6-10 |
AFC South
| Remaining Schedule: Ind, SD, Cin, @NE, Dal, @Bal, @Ten, Cle The Pittsburgh Steelers have just two easy games the rest of the season (Cin and Cle). Looking at that schedule I think if the Steelers can finish 4-4 that's saying something. A mere .500 record the rest of the way is all Pittsburgh should need to get themselves into the playoffs once again. The recent news on starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's injury came back positive, but it remains to be seen on whether he'll experience any lingering effects the rest of the way. Even without Roethlisberger I think this team can survive the rest of the schedule to at least get them into the postseason. Current Record - 6-2 / Projected Finish - 10-6 |
| Remaining Schedule: @Hou, @NYG, Phi, @Cin, Was, Pit, @Dal, Jac The Baltimore Ravens are going to fall just short this season. It's got to be exciting for Ravens' fans to know that this year they can at least score a little bit, despite using rookie quarterback Joe Flacco all season long. I think by next season if the Ravens can add one more weapon on offense and Flacco has another year of growth, then they could be a much bigger threat by season's end. The problem this year is this team just has too many tough games left on the schedule to get to the 10 wins that are needed to get in. Current Record - 5-3 / Projected Finish - 9-7 |
| Remaining Schedule: Den, @Buf, Hou, Ind, @Ten, @Phi, Cin, @Pit The Cleveland Browns have just passed the torch to second year quarterback Brady Quinn with nothing to lose the rest of this season. The word out of Cleveland is that former starting quarterback Derek Anderson will be traded this offseason to a team like Minnesota or Detroit. Even with a reliable starting quarterback the Browns wouldn't be able to overcome their schedule the rest of the way to make the playoffs. There's no doubt that Cleveland has talent, so don't be surprised to see this team towards the top of the division once again next year if Quinn pans out. Current Record - 3-5 / Projected Finish - 6-10 |
| Remaining Schedule: Bye, Phi, @Pit, Bal, @Ind, Was, @Cle, KC The Cincinnati Bengals could play Arena League teams the rest of the season and not make the playoffs. In fact, I think they might actually lose one or two of those games. This team has plenty of talent on offense, and this season a surprisingly good defense under first year coordinator Mark Zimmer. The Bengals need for injured quarterback Carson Palmer to get healthy and to get everyone on the team moving in one direction. Basically, they just need a new coach that can get the most out of what this team has to offer for next season. Current Record - 1-8 / Projected Finish - 3-13 |
AFC West
| Remaining Schedule: KC, @Pit, Ind, Atl, Oak, @KC, @TB, Den The AFC West is a two team race and I'm giving the edge to the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers have five home games remaining, while the Broncos have just four. Also, in my opinion the Chargers have a slightly better offense and defense that will begin to come together in the second half of the season. San Diego has to feel fortunate to be just a game back right now, but if they can win six of their last eight to get into the playoffs they will be one of the most dangerous teams in the field. Current Record - 3-5 / Projected Finish - 9-7 |
| Remaining Schedule: @Cle, @Atl, Oak, @NYJ, KC, @Car, Buf, @SD The Denver Broncos have enough offense to score with anyone. Unfortunately, when teams have slowed their offense down they have struggled to win games because their defense is almost non-existent. With remaining road games at Cleveland, Atlanta, New York, Carolina, and San Diego it's going to be hard for the Broncos to get out of there with even two wins. In fact, I think this Thursday's game at Cleveland will be one of the biggest games of the year for this Denver team because most people believe they should win, but I think the Browns will put a major dent in the Broncos postseason chances by coming out on top. Current Record - 4-4 / Projected Finish - 8-8 |
| Remaining Schedule: @SD, NO, Buf, @Oak, @Den, SD, Mia, @Cin The Kansas City Chiefs have a long way to go before they're consistently competitive again. However, with the way that backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen has been playing lately I'll go with an upside pick of three more wins the rest of the season. Thigpen may be doing okay right now, but this team needs to find a solid quarterback now because they're got the pieces on offense to be really good. I'm not sure if the Chiefs can hang on to tight end Tony Gonzalez or disgruntled running back Larry Johnson at the end of the season. However, if they can keep these two, while adding a quarterback they could be much more improved next year. Current Record - 1-7 / Projected Finish - 4-12 |
| Remaining Schedule: Car, @Mia, @Den, KC, @SD, NE, Hou, @TB The Oakland Raiders miraculously have two wins so far this season. The way this team has performed the last few weeks makes me think they may not win a game the rest of the year. However, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt with a win over KC at home, or a win over Houston at home in the second to last week of the season. The Raiders are still at least a year or two away from being competitive. A commitment to excellence-right? Current Record - 2-6 / Projected Finish - 3-13 |
