The AFC playoff race is heating up, and after Week 14, things are getting downright chaotic-especially in the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens, once sitting atop the division, have now dropped two straight and find themselves not only behind the Pittsburgh Steelers, but completely out of the playoff picture for the moment. It’s a steep fall, and the road back isn’t going to be easy.
Here’s where it gets even more interesting: the Ravens and Steelers still have one more showdown left on the calendar, set for Week 18. And if the current trajectory holds, that game could very well be a win-or-go-home scenario. The winner stays alive in the playoff hunt; the loser starts planning offseason vacations.
Elsewhere in the AFC, the New England Patriots were off this week with a bye, but they still hold the top seed at 11-2. Right behind them, the Denver Broncos (10-2) are waiting for their chance to make a move in the late window.
The Jacksonville Jaguars took care of business, beating the Indianapolis Colts to tighten their grip on the third seed. That win not only gave them a bit of breathing room in the standings, but also delivered a blow to Indy, who lost more than just the game-Daniel Jones is now out for the season. That’s a tough loss for a Colts team that’s been scrapping to stay in the mix.
The Buffalo Bills made a statement with their Week 14 win over the Bengals, climbing into the fifth spot in the playoff race and leading the wild card pack-for now. The Los Angeles Chargers play Monday night and have a chance to leapfrog Buffalo into that fifth seed. As it stands, the Colts are clinging to the seventh and final playoff spot, but Houston is knocking on the door.
The Texans, along with the Kansas City Chiefs, are both just outside the current playoff picture. That makes their Sunday night clash a massive one-potentially season-defining for both squads.
A win could vault Houston past Indy and into the postseason bracket. A loss might make the path too narrow to navigate.
Here’s how the AFC playoff standings look after most of the Week 14 action:
AFC Standings (Week 14)
1.
New England Patriots (11-2)
2.
Denver Broncos (10-2)
3.
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
4.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
5.
Buffalo Bills (9-4)
6.
Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
7.
Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
8.
Houston Texans (7-5)
9.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-6, 3-4 AFC)
10.
Baltimore Ravens (6-7, win over MIA)
11.
Miami Dolphins (6-7, loss to BAL)
12.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
13.
Eliminated - New York Jets (3-10)
14.
Eliminated - Cleveland Browns (3-10)
15.
Eliminated - Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
16.
Eliminated - Tennessee Titans (1-11)
The bottom of the standings is starting to thin out. The Titans, Raiders, Jets, and Browns have all been mathematically eliminated.
For Cleveland, it’s the tenth loss and four division defeats that sealed their fate. Cincinnati isn’t officially out yet, but at 4-9, they’d need a miracle run to even sniff a postseason berth.
AFC North Standings (Post-Week 14)
1.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
2.
Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
3.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
4.
Eliminated - Cleveland Browns (3-10)
The AFC North is still very much alive-at least for the top two teams. The Steelers have the edge for now, but with three weeks left and a head-to-head still on deck, there’s plenty of drama still to come. The Ravens need to stop the bleeding fast, or they’ll be watching January football from the couch.
With just a few weeks remaining, the playoff picture is far from settled. Every game matters, every win is gold, and every mistake could be the one that ends a season. Buckle up-this AFC race is going to the wire.