thefinishline 12/15/10
NFL Post Season Beginning To Take Shape (AFC)
By Shawn Brown
As week 15 of the regular season approaches, a few AFC teams emerge as heavy contenders in the post-season. In the AFC, the 11-2 New England Patriots have pulled away from the pack in their division, leading the conference. Just behind them are the New York Jets at 9-4. But after the last meeting between the two teams, it’s hard to see the Jets coming out on top with QB Tom Brady at the top of his game.
Now in the AFC North division leaders the Pittsburgh Steelers are second in the conference behind the Patriots with a 10-3 record. Could this be the AFC Championship?
Wait a minute. Hold on to your coat tails.
There’s still a few of teams to consider before we put them on the slate. Also in the AFC North are the Baltimore Ravens with a 9-4 record, and to be quite honest, to deny the fact that the AFC North divisional will be between the Steelers and the Ravens this season would be absurd.
Then in the AFC South, the defending AFC champs the Indianapolis Colts at 7-6 and injury-plagued, just behind the Jacksonville Jaguars who are leading the division with a 8-5 record. At the very least one of those teams will make the post-season, but I’m not sure either of those teams will survive long enough to make it to the divisional. With number 18 at the helm for the Colts, who knows?
Now in the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers (7-6), though just behind the Kansas City Chiefs (8-5), will most likely win their division especially after they shocked the life out of the Chiefs in Week 14 with a 31-0 victory. The Chargers will certainly grab a wild card entrance into the post-season. The Oakland Raiders at 6-7 have shown signs of gaining momentum even defeating the Chargers in week 13. But inconsistency is a killer in the post-season.
So which teams from the AFC will emerge and play for the AFC Championship? Can the Jets stop their two-game losing streak and stake their claim to play in their second consecutive AFC Championship game? Can the Ravens get pass the Steelers and survive until the next round? Will the Jaguars finally trump the Colts and win the division? Will a very hungry Philip Rivers lead his team from behind to an AFC Championship? Thoughts?
As week 15 of the regular season approaches, a few AFC teams emerge as heavy contenders in the post-season. In the AFC, the 11-2 New England Patriots have pulled away from the pack in their division, leading the conference. Just behind them are the New York Jets at 9-4. But after the last meeting between the two teams, it’s hard to see the Jets coming out on top with QB Tom Brady at the top of his game.
Now in the AFC North division leaders the Pittsburgh Steelers are second in the conference behind the Patriots with a 10-3 record. Could this be the AFC Championship?
Wait a minute. Hold on to your coat tails.
There’s still a few of teams to consider before we put them on the slate. Also in the AFC North are the Baltimore Ravens with a 9-4 record, and to be quite honest, to deny the fact that the AFC North divisional will be between the Steelers and the Ravens this season would be absurd.
Then in the AFC South, the defending AFC champs the Indianapolis Colts at 7-6 and injury-plagued, just behind the Jacksonville Jaguars who are leading the division with a 8-5 record. At the very least one of those teams will make the post-season, but I’m not sure either of those teams will survive long enough to make it to the divisional. With number 18 at the helm for the Colts, who knows?
Now in the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers (7-6), though just behind the Kansas City Chiefs (8-5), will most likely win their division especially after they shocked the life out of the Chiefs in Week 14 with a 31-0 victory. The Chargers will certainly grab a wild card entrance into the post-season. The Oakland Raiders at 6-7 have shown signs of gaining momentum even defeating the Chargers in week 13. But inconsistency is a killer in the post-season.
So which teams from the AFC will emerge and play for the AFC Championship? Can the Jets stop their two-game losing streak and stake their claim to play in their second consecutive AFC Championship game? Can the Ravens get pass the Steelers and survive until the next round? Will the Jaguars finally trump the Colts and win the division? Will a very hungry Philip Rivers lead his team from behind to an AFC Championship? Thoughts?