Let’s check the pulse on the AFC Playoff Picture and AFC Wild Card rankings after the Chiefs, Jets and Bengals won in Week 7.
Seven weeks later, the image of an NFL game on the AFC side began to take shape.
We’re in the middle of the season, and one thing that’s clear is that the AFC is the superior conference. When Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady fall apart, it looks like the NFC is the Eagles, the Giants, the Cowboys, and then everyone else.
This is good news for the AFC.
Kansas City running through San Francisco 49ers gave a little indication of what might lie ahead. Kyle Shanahan called a great game a new weapon in Christian McCaffrey, but the bosses still shredded them down the road.
While nothing has been decided in October – especially the playoff photo – it is starting to look like anyone coming out of the NFC will be sacrificial lambs to the gods who will be coming out of the other conference.
The question is who will be there at the end and how difficult is the path through the AFC?
The AFC play-off picture has been updated after week 7
With Buffalo bills in their farewell week, the best thing Kansas City can do is tread the water and not fall back on the first seed. The Chiefs’ goal from now on is to play perfect football and I hope the Bills face turmoil with their opponents AFC East.
There is a safe bet going on.
New York has two surprises in the playoffs: the Giants in the NFC and the Jets in the AFC. The Jets’ defense looks legitimate and their confidence is gaining fast which could cause problems for the Bills when they meet this season. The Patriots are always dangerous and can plot their way to victory, and the Dolphins have just reclaimed and actually beat the Bills earlier this season.
Buffalo has a tiebreaker with Kansas City by winning in Week 6, which means he would need to lose twice to lose the top seed to Kansas City. Beyond the Chiefs, the Bills need to keep an eye on the Tennessee Titans, who haven’t been hugely impressive this season but are cruising at the top of the Asian playoffs picture.
Here’s what the AFC qualifying bracket would look like if the post-season started today:
- Buffalo Bills (5-1)
- Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
- Tennessee Titans (4-2)
- Baltimore Ravens (4-3)
- New York Jets (5-2)
- Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)
Based on these arrangements, here’s what the playoff matches will look like in the first weekend of the event:
- (2) Kansas City Chiefs vs (7) Cincinnati Bengals
- (3) Tennessee Titans vs (6) Los Angeles Chargers
- (4) Baltimore Ravens vs (5) New York Jets
AFC Wild Card standings after Week 7
Down the fold of the AFC Playoff Picture, the Cincinnati Bengals are back in the mix. The Super Bowl runners-up got off to a rough start to the year but dominated the Atlanta Falcons in Week Seven, a performance that seemed to suggest offense is awake. Joe Burrow looks like the MVP nominee he was in 2021 and the Bengals seem to have gotten rid of Super Bowl hangovers – for now.
Cincinnati got some help from the team that beat him in the playoffs last year. Swinging the Colts, Tennessee State knocked Indianapolis out of the final game picture right now and opened up a path for teams like Miami and New England to jump on them.
For now, here’s what the Wild Card standings will look like after week seven:
Fifth seed: New York Jets (5-2)
Sixth pill: Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
Seventh seed: Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)
on the bubble
Miami Dolphins (3-3)
Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1)
New England Patriots (3-3)
in pursuit
Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)
Denver Broncos (2-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)
Cleveland Browns (2-5)
Houston Texans (1-4-1)
AFC play-off scenarios
With so many teams tied in the standings, few play the tiebreak based on various factors related to the schedule.
- The Ravens win the tiebreak over Cincinnati based on head-to-head win percentage.
- The Bengals holds the Miami tiebreak based on a head-to-head win percentage.
- The Dolphins carry the tiebreak over New England based on their head-to-head win percentage.
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