AFC & NFC Notes

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 15, 2009 6:28 PM EST

AFC PLAYOFF RACE DOWN TO THE WIRE

What’s the strategy for contenders down the stretch as the AFC playoff picture takes shape?

"We control what we control," says San Diego Chargers quarterback PHILIP RIVERS, who can help his club clinch a postseason berth for the fourth consecutive season with a win on Sunday. "If we win this game we can be assured to play past January 3. Other than go further than that, I wouldn’t see a need to because there are a lot of things that have to happen, both with us and other teams."

The season has three weeks remaining and 13 clubs are vying for the AFC’s six playoff slots. The Indianapolis Colts (13-0) are the only AFC team to have clinched a playoff berth, securing the AFC South title and homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs.

San Diego (10-3) and Cincinnati (9-4) each have an opportunity to earn a playoff berth and possibly clinch division titles this week. The race remains tight in the AFC with 10 other clubs with records between 8-5 and 5-8 battling for a division championship or Wild Card berth.

"Right now, we need to win the rest of our games," says Miami Dolphins defensive lineman RANDY STARKS, whose club is in the hunt for the AFC East title. "If we don’t win the rest of our games, it doesn’t matter who beats who."

Following are the records of AFC playoff contenders, their remaining games and their wins and losses against other AFC playoff hopefuls:

AFC EAST

TEAM/GAMES VS. CONTENDERS	OVERALL	DIV.	CONF.	WK. 15	WK. 16	WK. 17
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS	8-5	3-2	5-4	at Buf	Jac	at Hou
Wins: Buf, Bal, Ten, Mia, NYJ; Losses: NYJ, Den, Ind, Mia

MIAMI DOLPHINS	7-6	4-2	5-4	at Ten	Hou	Pit
Wins: Buf, NYJ (2), NE, Jac; Losses: Ind, SD, NE, Buf

NEW YORK JETS	7-6	2-4	5-5	Atl	at Ind	Cin
Wins: Hou, NE, Ten, Buf; Losses: Mia (2), Buf, Jac, NE

BUFFALO BILLS	5-8	2-3	3-7	NE	at Atl	Ind
Wins: NYJ, Mia; Losses: NE, Mia, Hou, Ten, Jac, NYJ

AFC NORTH

TEAM/GAMES VS. CONTENDERS	OVERALL	DIV.	CONF.	WK. 15	WK. 16	WK. 17
CINCINNATI BENGALS	9-4	6-0	6-3	at SD	KC	at NYJ
Wins: Pit (2), Bal (2); Losses: Den, Hou

BALTIMORE RAVENS	7-6	3-2	6-4	Chi	at Pit	at Oak
Wins: SD, Den, Pit; Losses: NE, Cin (2), Ind

PITTSBURGH STEELERS Wins: Ten, SD, Den; Losses: Cin (2), Bal	6-7	1-4	4-6	GB	Bal	at Mia


AFC SOUTH

TEAM/GAMES VS. CONTENDERS	OVERALL	DIV.	CONF.	WK. 15	WK. 16	WK. 17
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS*	13-0	5-0	9-0	at Jac	NYJ	at Buf
Wins: Jac, Mia, Ten (2), Hou (2), NE, Bal, Den

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS	7-6	3-2	6-3	Ind	at NE	at Cle
Wins: Hou (2), Ten, NYJ, Buf; Losses: Ind, Ten, Mia

TENNESSEE TITANS Wins: Jac, Buf, Hou; Losses: Pit, Hou, NYJ, Jac, Ind (2) NE	6-7	2-4	3-7	Mia	SD	at Sea
HOUSTON TEXANS Wins: Ten, Cin, Buf; Losses: NYJ, Jac (2), Ind (2), Ten	6-7	1-5	4-6	at StL	at Mia	NE
AFC WEST

TEAM/GAMES VS. CONTENDERS	OVERALL	DIV.	CONF.	WK. 15	WK. 16	WK. 17
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS	10-3	5-1	7-3	Cin	at Ten	Was
Wins: Mia, Den; Losses: Bal, Pit, Den

DENVER BRONCOS	8-5	3-1	6-4	Oak	at Phi	KC
Wins: Cin, NE, SD; Losses: Bal, Pit, SD, Ind

* Clinched division title and homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs.

PLAYOFF RACES INTENSIFY AS NFL ENTERS FINAL THREE WEEKS

As the NFL enters Week 15, 11 teams are still alive for a playoff berth in the NFC as the push to Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida heats up.

Two teams – the New Orleans Saints (13-0) and Minnesota Vikings (11-2) – have clinched a spot in the postseason. The Saints have already secured the NFC South and a first-round bye and aim to lock up homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs this weekend.

The primetime schedule for Week 15 features several NFC teams vying for a playoff spot.

On Saturday night (NFL Network, 8:20 PM ET), the undefeated Saints will host the Dallas Cowboys (8-5). Sunday night’s contest (NBC, 8:20 PM ET) will pit two teams in playoff contention against one another when the Vikings (11-2) visit the Carolina Panthers (5-8). And on Monday night (ESPN, 8:30 PM ET), the New York Giants (7-6) will look to make a move in the NFC race when they travel to Washington to face the NFC East rival Redskins.

Following are the records of NFC playoff contenders, their remaining games and their wins and losses against other NFC playoff hopefuls:

NFC EAST

TEAM/GAMES VS. CONTENDERS	OVERALL	DIV.	CONF.	WK. 15	WK. 16	WK. 17
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES	9-4	4-1	8-2	SF	Den	at Dal
Wins: Atl, Car, NYG (2); Losses: Dal, NO

DALLAS COWBOYS	8-5	2-2	6-3	at NO	at Was	Phi
Wins: Atl, Car, Phi, Sea; Losses: GB, NYG (2)

NEW YORK GIANTS	7-6	3-2	5-4	at Was	Car	at Min
Wins: Atl, Dal (2); Losses: Arz, NO, Phi (2)

NFC NORTH

TEAM/GAMES VS. CONTENDERS	OVERALL	DIV.	CONF.	WK. 15	WK. 16	WK. 17
MINNESOTA VIKINGS **	11-2	5-0	8-1	at Car	at Chi	NYG
Wins: GB (2), SF, Sea; Losses: Arz

GREEN BAY PACKERS	9-4	4-2	7-3	at Pit	Sea	at Arz
Wins: Dal, SF; Losses: Min (2)

NFC SOUTH

TEAM/GAMES VS. CONTENDERS	OVERALL	DIV.	CONF.	WK. 15	WK. 16	WK. 17
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS *	13-0	4-0	9-0	Dal	TB	at Car
Wins: Atl (2), Car, NYG, Phi;

ATLANTA FALCONS	6-7	2-3	5-6	at NYJ	Buf	at TB
Wins: Car, SF; Losses: Car, Dal, NO (2), NYG, Phi

CAROLINA PANTHERS	5-8	3-2	5-4	Min	at NYG	NO
Wins: Arz, Atl; Losses: Atl, Dal, NO, Phi

NFC WEST

TEAM/GAMES VS. CONTENDERS	OVERALL	DIV.	CONF.	WK. 15	WK. 16	WK. 17
ARIZONA CARDINALS	8-5	3-2	6-3	at Det	StL	GB
Wins: Min, NYG, Sea (2); Losses: Car, SF (2)

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS	6-7	4-1	5-4	at Phi	Det	at StL
Wins: Arz (2), Sea; Losses: Atl, GB, Min, Sea

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS	5-8	3-3	4-6	TB	at GB	Ten
Wins: SF; Losses: Arz (2), Dal, Min, SF

* Clinched division ** Clinched playoff spot

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

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Comments

Crazy data

Ive always wanted to see a team make it where they need like 5 teams to lose all at once. Crap, that would be the Steelers this year, nevermind.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Dec 16, 2009 4:42 AM EST reply actions

Steelers? I’ve heard of them. They used to field a decent team…until they allowed their O-line to go to pooh and let their Qb’s head get beat in.

by raven on Dec 16, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions

In the beginning of the season would you have honestly been okay with a split (3-3) with the Colts, NE, Cincy, SD, Den, Pitt.?

I think we might have been sokay with this IF we beat the bad teams- which we have. We may very well be 10-6 which is the best a 1 receiver team with a fading TE and work in progress DB’s could ask for.

Come on Ravens give me 1 playoff game baby. Something to get me through January. Just 1. 1 game where we can scare the pants off a top seed or upset them. How friggin great would that be. I bet M&T will be rocking Sunday. I expect a very very loud crowd. I’m not sure Orton will be able to handle it.

by raven on Dec 16, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions