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The mad sprint to the NFL playoffs is coming right down to its remaining three weeks and, within the AFC, golf equipment are nonetheless jockeying for place earlier than hopefully making a run to Tremendous Bowl LV. As issues stand coming into Week 15, there are seven groups vying for the three wild card spots: Cleveland, Indianapolis, Miami, Baltimore, Las Vegas, New England, and Denver. A few of these golf equipment are solely nonetheless “within the hunt” on a mathematical stage and haven’t any real looking shot of stamping a ticket into the postseason, however there others on the perimeter of the present playoff image that would discover themselves within the dance earlier than the common season is finished.
At present, we’ll take a dive into the deep finish of the AFC playoff race and rank every of the contenders, and venture the place they’re going to finally land as soon as the mud settles on Week 17.
- Cleveland Browns (9-4) — Prediction: No. 5 seed
Regardless of the loss towards the Ravens in Week 14, the Browns are nonetheless in a major place to get into the playoffs. They doubtless will solely have to win two of their remaining three video games to take action and there is a very straightforward case to be made that they go 3-0 over this remaining stretch. Whereas the Giants have been a scrappy group underneath head coach Joe Decide this season, the Browns are a greater unit from top-to-bottom. Cleveland attracts the Giants in Week 15. Sticking in New York, Cleveland may have the winless Jets in Week 16 and should not have any downside cruising to a W there. Lastly, if the Pittsburgh Steelers proceed their present free-fall, you would even be a potential Week 17 matchup that determines the AFC North. Whereas we’ll cross that bridge as soon as we get there, there’s nonetheless a transparent path for the Browns to get into the postseason.
Convention report: 6-4
Energy of victory: .363
Remaining three: at Giants, at Jets, vs. Steelers
2. Indianapolis Colts (9-4) — Prediction: No. 6 seed
Indy’s remaining matchups with their AFC South rivals might find yourself having main implications as to who will win the division. Presently, the Tennessee Titans have the sting over the Colts for the division lead due to a stronger successful proportion throughout the AFC South. If the Colts have been to beat the Texans and Jaguars over the following three weeks and Tennessee have been to lose towards the Texans in Week 17, nonetheless, that’d draw them even at 4-2 throughout the division and presumably set off different tiebreaker situations as long as their total data keep the identical. With the division nonetheless in play, there is a good probability the Colts get in. That stated, they’d be the No. 6 seed on this present snapshot due to their Week 5 loss to Cleveland.
Convention report: 5-4
Energy of victory: .423
Remaining three: vs.Texans, at Steelers, vs. Jaguars
3. Baltimore Ravens (8-5) — Prediction No. 7 seed
That is the place issues get a bit extra attention-grabbing. At this level, no remaining membership we’ll break down is actually within the hunt to win their division and are solely seeking to obtain a wild card berth. The Ravens drastically helped their playoff probabilities due to that wild Monday Night time Soccer win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 14. They’re nonetheless presently on the surface wanting in on the postseason however have a a lot simpler path to the playoffs than the present No. 7 seed — the Miami Dolphins. Baltimore’s remaining three opponents have a mixed report of 8-30 this season and two of these remaining three contests will likely be at residence. So long as they maintain enterprise, they need to be capable to make the leap over Miami.
Convention report: 5-5
Energy of victory: .462
Remaining three: vs. Jaguars, vs. Giants, at Bengals
4. Miami Dolphins (9-4) — Prediction: Out
For Miami, Buffalo has a two-game lead and presently owns the head-to-head tiebreaker throughout the AFC East, in order that path appears all however misplaced. The Payments must lose out and the Dolphins must win out over the ultimate three weeks for Miami to leapfrog over them for the division lead so it is a bit unlikely. To make issues worse for Brian Flores’ membership, Baltimore’s win over the Browns on Monday Night time Soccer put a severe dent of their playoff hopes. Now, there’s a good better emphasis on successful out to keep up that one-game lead over Baltimore. That stated, dealing with the Patriots, Raiders, and Payments is not precisely the smoothest of roads to go down.
Convention report: 5-4
Energy of victory: .274
Remaining three: vs. Patriots, at Raiders, at Payments
5. Las Vegas Raiders (7-6) – Prediction: Out
That is one other tier drop. Whereas the groups talked about above have comparatively easy paths to the playoffs, that is the purpose the place issues would want to go haywire. Las Vegas has misplaced three of their final 4 and simply fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther so they do not significantly seem like a group gearing up for a postseason run, despite the fact that they’re nonetheless respiratory mathematically. Jon Gruden’s membership would want to win out to even make a playoff berth potential however even with that they do not maintain their future of their palms.
Convention report: 5-4
Energy of victory: .484
Remaining three: vs. Chargers, vs. Dolphins at Broncos
6. New England Patriots (6-7) – Prediction: Out
New England is in an unfamiliar spot. They’re on the surface wanting in on the playoffs for the primary time in without end. Regardless of there nonetheless being a sliver of hope that Invoice Belichick might squeak into the postseason, it is not real looking. The offense continues to look misplaced underneath Cam Newton and was simply beat down by the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15. They’d must win out to offer themselves a shot, however a 1-2 end to 2020 looks like the extra doubtless highway they’re going to be heading down.
Convention report: 5-4
Energy of victory: .436
Remaining three: at Dolphins, vs. Payments, vs. Jets
7. Denver Broncos (5-8) – Prediction: Out
Issues must go utterly bananas for the Broncos to get in at 8-8, nevertheless it’s not unimaginable. You doubtless want each the Ravens and Dolphins to lose out, the Raiders to lose two of their remaining three and New England would want to lose a minimum of yet one more sport. Once more, that is extremely unlikely however a path stays. Extra realistically, the Broncos will likely be a spectator this postseason and look to construct a extra severe contender in 2021.
Convention report: 4-5
Energy of victory: .338
Remaining three: vs. Payments, at Chargers, vs. Raiders
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