Zachary GirsbergerAFC Rundown Week 12
November 30th 2010 19:05
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After completing more than two-thirds of the season, it is time to run through the NFL one more time before the playoffs. Each team will be listed, followed by their overall record, followed by commentary on their season, and then will receive a rating of playoff lock, in-contention, or eliminated. The NFC rundown can be found here.
AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3): The Steelers are amongst the NFL’s elite teams this season, consistently putting a good product on the field. As usual, the defense is the cornerstone of the team, leading the AFC in points allowed. The Steelers have had success in the past and will continue to succeed for the rest of the season.
Playoff Status: Lock
Baltimore Ravens (8-3): The Ravens are a confusing team on offense, but are solid defensively. Week in and week out, Flacco puts up decent numbers and the Ravens run the ball, but I am not sold on their ability due to their inability to put teams away until late. That said, the Ravens are solid at home and the defense is enough to carry the team through lulls.
Playoff Status: Lock
Cleveland Browns (4-7): The Browns have become a trendy team in the league since Colt McCoy beginning his term as Browns starter. Each week I am impressed by the rookie, and the previous two weeks with McCoy could have easily been wins for the Browns. The win versus the Panthers was lucky, but still is a win. Next year this team could have a shot at the wild card, but this year will not provide the fruit of January.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
Cincinnati Bengals (2-9): The Bengals have been one of the biggest disappointments this season. Coming off a turn-around season, this year’s version could cost Marvin Lewis his job and Palmer may need to be re-evaluated as a franchise quarterback. The Bengals have put up big yardage numbers this year, but have been unable to stop the scoring.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
AFC EAST
New England Patriots (9-2): This week’s showdown in New England could dictate not only the winner of the AFC East, but also the number one seed and home-field advantage. The Patriots always play well at home and the Jets have yet to beat a winning team since New England. Belichick has done wonders with this roster and could be up for a third coach of the year award.
Playoff Status: Lock
New York Jets (9-2): The loudmouths of the league head to Foxboro this week, and behind Mark Sanchez this team has proven to be resilient in tight games. The Jets have proven they can beat the Patriots already and have a chance to prove themselves after an offseason of boasting. The Jets will make the playoffs, but even if they miss out on the number one seed, New York hasn’t proven a need for home field going 5-0 on the road this season.
Playoff Status: Lock
Miami Dolphins (6-5): The Dolphins look destined to be a .500 team without a true offensive identity this year. With Chad Henne’s knee a constant question mark, Pennington out, and Thigpen as the backup, the Dolphin’s must rely on their middle-of-the-pack scoring defense to maintain their pace. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they only have two more road games, and five of their six wins have come on the road.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
Buffalo Bills (2-9): The Bills in the past six weeks have a 2-4 record, yet each of those four losses have been by three points. If the Bills learn to play a complete game, they could play spoilers for the rest of the league’s aspirations, yet this season was over before the first win for the Bills. Ryan Fitzpatrick has proven he can lead the offense, yet I think a Luck (or Locker) draft could still be in store.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
AFC WEST
Kansas City Chiefs (7-4): Did you know that Matt Cassel is second in the league in Touchdown Pass to Interception differential to Tom Brady ( 19) at 18? How about that for a running team, the Chiefs have the league’s leader in touchdown catches in Dwayne Bowe? While many have predicted that the Chiefs’ hot start was just a fluke, they have potential to hold their ground in the West, and hold off the surging Chargers.
Playoff Status: In-Contention
San Diego Charger (6-5): While Rivers’ potential record-breaking yardage was hurt this week in Indy, the Chargers have only gotten better. This week was the Chargers most complete game of the year, with a balance offense and a stifling defense that forced five turnovers. Did you know the Chargers lead the league in Sacks, Total Defense, and Total Offense? The Chargers are playing into their usual trend of starting slow and finishing on top, yet this year the Chiefs are putting up a solid season as well.
Playoff Status: In-Contention
Oakland Raiders (5-6): The Raiders have stumbled the past two weeks to put their turnaround season in doubt, yet Tom Cable has led this team to a better record than expected by most. The Raiders have explosive potential and just need a level of consistency to win more games. That said, the Raiders have two strong teams ahead of them and I am thinking they won’t make the playoffs.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
Denver Broncos (3-8): Josh McDaniels put his job in further jeopardy this week with the “Little Spygate” scandal and a 5-16 record after starting last season 6-0. The Broncos have a brilliant passing game, but with a porous defense and no running game, Denver will finish last in the division this year.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
AFC SOUTH
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5): The Jaguars are a puzzling division leader as they have not only a winning record (a surprise by most preseason predictions) but also by having that record while being outscored by 54 points on the season. The Jags have a slim advantage over the Colts due to their early season victory, yet if the Colts fix their problems, the Jags could be on the outside looking in.
Playoff Status: In-Contention
Indianapolis Colts (6-5): The Colts have struggled recently, due to injury and a tough schedule, and have lost their streak of 12-win seasons. The Colts have a shot at the playoffs still in the suddenly-thin AFC South. Manning has history on his side and the Colts have a better defense than the Jags. I think if the Colts can get it together, they will reach the playoffs once more.
Playoff Status: In-Contention
Tennessee Titans (5-6): After losing Young for the season and Collins being a question mark each week, the Titans season is over. Rusty Smith may lead the team to one or two wins, but there is no way the Titans overtake the Jags and the Colts. Interesting fact though, the Titans are 0-3 since Randy Moss joined the team.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
Houston Texans (5-6): The Texans have lost their early season luster and thus Kubiak could be out of a job come February. With one of the worst defenses in the league, the Texans have managed to win with the combination of Schaub and Foster, and perhaps under a Gruden or a Cowler, the team can make the playoffs next season.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3): The Steelers are amongst the NFL’s elite teams this season, consistently putting a good product on the field. As usual, the defense is the cornerstone of the team, leading the AFC in points allowed. The Steelers have had success in the past and will continue to succeed for the rest of the season.
Baltimore Ravens (8-3): The Ravens are a confusing team on offense, but are solid defensively. Week in and week out, Flacco puts up decent numbers and the Ravens run the ball, but I am not sold on their ability due to their inability to put teams away until late. That said, the Ravens are solid at home and the defense is enough to carry the team through lulls.
Playoff Status: Lock
Cleveland Browns (4-7): The Browns have become a trendy team in the league since Colt McCoy beginning his term as Browns starter. Each week I am impressed by the rookie, and the previous two weeks with McCoy could have easily been wins for the Browns. The win versus the Panthers was lucky, but still is a win. Next year this team could have a shot at the wild card, but this year will not provide the fruit of January.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
Cincinnati Bengals (2-9): The Bengals have been one of the biggest disappointments this season. Coming off a turn-around season, this year’s version could cost Marvin Lewis his job and Palmer may need to be re-evaluated as a franchise quarterback. The Bengals have put up big yardage numbers this year, but have been unable to stop the scoring.
AFC EAST
New England Patriots (9-2): This week’s showdown in New England could dictate not only the winner of the AFC East, but also the number one seed and home-field advantage. The Patriots always play well at home and the Jets have yet to beat a winning team since New England. Belichick has done wonders with this roster and could be up for a third coach of the year award.
Playoff Status: Lock
New York Jets (9-2): The loudmouths of the league head to Foxboro this week, and behind Mark Sanchez this team has proven to be resilient in tight games. The Jets have proven they can beat the Patriots already and have a chance to prove themselves after an offseason of boasting. The Jets will make the playoffs, but even if they miss out on the number one seed, New York hasn’t proven a need for home field going 5-0 on the road this season.
Playoff Status: Lock
Miami Dolphins (6-5): The Dolphins look destined to be a .500 team without a true offensive identity this year. With Chad Henne’s knee a constant question mark, Pennington out, and Thigpen as the backup, the Dolphin’s must rely on their middle-of-the-pack scoring defense to maintain their pace. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they only have two more road games, and five of their six wins have come on the road.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
Buffalo Bills (2-9): The Bills in the past six weeks have a 2-4 record, yet each of those four losses have been by three points. If the Bills learn to play a complete game, they could play spoilers for the rest of the league’s aspirations, yet this season was over before the first win for the Bills. Ryan Fitzpatrick has proven he can lead the offense, yet I think a Luck (or Locker) draft could still be in store.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
AFC WEST
Kansas City Chiefs (7-4): Did you know that Matt Cassel is second in the league in Touchdown Pass to Interception differential to Tom Brady ( 19) at 18? How about that for a running team, the Chiefs have the league’s leader in touchdown catches in Dwayne Bowe? While many have predicted that the Chiefs’ hot start was just a fluke, they have potential to hold their ground in the West, and hold off the surging Chargers.
Playoff Status: In-Contention
San Diego Charger (6-5): While Rivers’ potential record-breaking yardage was hurt this week in Indy, the Chargers have only gotten better. This week was the Chargers most complete game of the year, with a balance offense and a stifling defense that forced five turnovers. Did you know the Chargers lead the league in Sacks, Total Defense, and Total Offense? The Chargers are playing into their usual trend of starting slow and finishing on top, yet this year the Chiefs are putting up a solid season as well.
Playoff Status: In-Contention
Oakland Raiders (5-6): The Raiders have stumbled the past two weeks to put their turnaround season in doubt, yet Tom Cable has led this team to a better record than expected by most. The Raiders have explosive potential and just need a level of consistency to win more games. That said, the Raiders have two strong teams ahead of them and I am thinking they won’t make the playoffs.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
Denver Broncos (3-8): Josh McDaniels put his job in further jeopardy this week with the “Little Spygate” scandal and a 5-16 record after starting last season 6-0. The Broncos have a brilliant passing game, but with a porous defense and no running game, Denver will finish last in the division this year.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
AFC SOUTH
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5): The Jaguars are a puzzling division leader as they have not only a winning record (a surprise by most preseason predictions) but also by having that record while being outscored by 54 points on the season. The Jags have a slim advantage over the Colts due to their early season victory, yet if the Colts fix their problems, the Jags could be on the outside looking in.
Playoff Status: In-Contention
Indianapolis Colts (6-5): The Colts have struggled recently, due to injury and a tough schedule, and have lost their streak of 12-win seasons. The Colts have a shot at the playoffs still in the suddenly-thin AFC South. Manning has history on his side and the Colts have a better defense than the Jags. I think if the Colts can get it together, they will reach the playoffs once more.
Playoff Status: In-Contention
Tennessee Titans (5-6): After losing Young for the season and Collins being a question mark each week, the Titans season is over. Rusty Smith may lead the team to one or two wins, but there is no way the Titans overtake the Jags and the Colts. Interesting fact though, the Titans are 0-3 since Randy Moss joined the team.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
Houston Texans (5-6): The Texans have lost their early season luster and thus Kubiak could be out of a job come February. With one of the worst defenses in the league, the Texans have managed to win with the combination of Schaub and Foster, and perhaps under a Gruden or a Cowler, the team can make the playoffs next season.
Playoff Status: Eliminated
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