What AFC teams need to do to make the playoffs
January 1, 2021
Lamar Jackson (Darron Cummings, Google Images)
Heading into week 17, the final week of the 2020 National Football League regular season, we know that the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Pittsburgh Steelers have won their respective divisions in the AFC, with the Chiefs getting the number one seed and a first-round bye. In the NFC, we know the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and New Orleans Saints have won their divisions, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have clinched a wildcard spot. We will take a look at the AFC today, and the NFC tomorrow.
In the AFC, there are presently five teams at 10-5 and battling for four spots. They are the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis Colts.
The Titans clinch the AFC South with a win over the Houston Texans. The only way Tennessee misses the playoffs is if they lose, and Miami, Baltimore, and Indianapolis all win.
The Colts need to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, and have either the Dolphins, Ravens, Browns, or Titans to lose. The Dolphins control their own destiny, and make the playoffs with a win over the Buffalo Bills. Miami still gets in if the Ravens, Browns, or Colts lose. Miami gets a break by the fact that the Bills have already clinched the AFC East.
The Browns were stunned last week by the Jets. Now this week, they play the Pittsburgh Steelers. Like the Bills, the Steelers have nothing to play for as they have already won the AFC North. Cleveland is in with a win. They also get in with a Colts loss or a Titans loss. Finally, the Ravens are in the playoffs with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals or losses by Cleveland or Miami.
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