AFC Playoff Picture: Steelers, Patriots jockeying for top spot

With the second half of the season kicking off this week, it felt like the perfect opportunity to bust out an early edition of the AFC playoff picture.


1. Steelers (6-2)
Remaining schedule: at Colts (3-6), vs. Titans (5-3), vs. Packers* (4-3), at Bengals (3-5), vs. Ravens (4-5), vs. Patriots (6-2), at Texans (3-5), vs. Browns (0-8)
Opponents record: 28-37 (.431)
The skinny: Toughest game the rest of the way would appear to be the Dec. 17 game at home against New England.

2. Patriots (6-2)
Remaining schedule: at Broncos (3-5), at Raiders (4-5), vs. Dolphins (4-4), at Bills (5-3), at Dolphins (4-4), at Steelers (6-2), vs. Bills (5-3), vs. Jets (4-5).
Opponents record: 35-31 (.530)
The skinny: Five of their final eight games are against AFC East foes.

3. Chiefs (6-3)
Remaining schedule: at Giants (1-7), vs. Bills (5-3), at Jets (4-5), vs. Raiders (4-5), vs. Chargers (3-5), vs. Dolphins (4-4), at Broncos (3-5).
Opponents record: 24-34 (.414)
The skinny: That game against New York skews their opponents record slightly. But in truth, the AFC East will play a sizable role in how they finish — three of their last seven are against AFC East teams.

4. Titans (5-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals (3-5), at Steelers (6-2), at Colts (3-6), vs. Texans (3-5), at Cardinals (4-4), at Niners (0-9), vs. Rams (6-2), vs. Jaguars (5-3).
Opponents record: 30-36 (.455)
The skinny: That San Francisco record tosses things out of whack a little, but there are still enough winnable games on their schedule to finish with nine wins. That might be enough to land a playoff spot.

5. Jaguars (5-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers (3-5), at Browns (0-8), at Cardinals (4-4), vs. Colts (3-6), vs. Seahawks (5-3), vs. Texans (3-5), at Niners (0-9), at Titans (5-3).
Opponents record: 23-43 (.348)
The skinny: Looks like Jacksonville is the only team left with two winless teams still left on the schedule. If the Jags can’t win nine games with that slate the rest of the way, something is wrong.

6. Bills (5-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints (6-2), at Chargers (3-5), at Chiefs (6-3), vs. Patriots (6-2), vs. Colts (3-6), vs. Dolphins (4-4), at Patriots (6-2), at Dolphins (4-4).
Opponents record: 37-28 (.569)
The skinny: If the Bills can make the playoffs, no one can say they didn't earn it.

In the hunt

7. Dolphins (4-4)
Remaining schedule: at Panthers (6-3), vs. Bucs (2-6), at Patriots (6-2), vs. Broncos (3-5), vs. Patriots (6-2), at Bills (5-3), at Chiefs (6-2), vs. Bills (5-3)
Opponents record: 39-26 (.600)
The skinny: What we said about Buffalo goes double for Miami. Three different six-win teams still left on the schedule will make a tough home stretch for the Dolphins.

8. Ravens (4-5)
Remaining schedule: at Packers* (4-3), vs. Texans (3-5), vs. Lions* (3-4), at Steelers (6-2), at Browns (0-8), vs. Colts (3-6), vs. Bengals (3-5)
Opponents record: 22-33 (.400)
The skinny: Baltimore has been an up-and-down mystery all year, so it’s anyone’s guess as to how things will shake out for them the rest of the way.

Rest of the field: 9. Raiders (4-5), 10. Jets (4-5), 11. Texans (3-5), 12. Bengals (3-5), 13. Chargers (3-5), 14. Broncos (3-5), 15. Colts (3-6), 16. Browns (0-8).

* — some opponents’ schedules do not include Monday’s Packers-Lions game.