Rounding into December, 5 games to go.
AFC East: Dolphins win their 6th in a row and refuse to go away quietly. They still play the Patriots on New Years Day. They have @BAL, ARI, @NYJ, @BUF before that. Three road games, two in cold weather, not easy, but I am not ready to declare the AFC East sewn up until either the Pats win out or the Fins lose one more.
1st Rd BYE: Patriots have a 3 game lead on AFC North/South with 5 to go, I am satisfied enough to write them into a bye for now. They should be sitting at home for the first week of the playoffs. Home field throughout is still in question though. The Raiders are the obvious threat with the same record, but the hope as always is that the AFC West beat up on each other enough to make the division champ the #2 seed with at least 4 losses.
AFC West: Raiders still on top with 2 losses. They have @KCC and @DEN still on the schedule, if they end the season 14-2 or even 13-3 they will have earned it. As for the competition, Broncos finish season with Patriots, Chiefs, and Raiders - probably as tough a schedule as is out there. And the Chiefs still have @ATL, OAK, and DEN. My guess is that the division winner will have 4 losses and a tiebreaker will be used to determine it.
AFC North: 2-way race between Ravens and Steelers, both at 6-5. Ravens won the first matchup so have upper hand here. Beyond the H2H game left, Ravens only have Patriots as 'difficult' matchup left. Steelers only have Giants left. Edge to Steelers on schedule. I haven't played all the scenarios out, but I think if Steelers win the H2H they likely win the division.
AFC South: Texans leading the division with a healthy -42 point differential (only three teams worse in conference). Houston has all 'winnable' games left (@GBP, @IND, JAX, CIN, @TEN). Titans next two games are Broncos and Chiefs. I think Houston wins the division at 9-7 (wins over Indy, Jacksonville, Cincy).
AFC East: Dolphins win their 6th in a row and refuse to go away quietly. They still play the Patriots on New Years Day. They have @BAL, ARI, @NYJ, @BUF before that. Three road games, two in cold weather, not easy, but I am not ready to declare the AFC East sewn up until either the Pats win out or the Fins lose one more.
1st Rd BYE: Patriots have a 3 game lead on AFC North/South with 5 to go, I am satisfied enough to write them into a bye for now. They should be sitting at home for the first week of the playoffs. Home field throughout is still in question though. The Raiders are the obvious threat with the same record, but the hope as always is that the AFC West beat up on each other enough to make the division champ the #2 seed with at least 4 losses.
AFC West: Raiders still on top with 2 losses. They have @KCC and @DEN still on the schedule, if they end the season 14-2 or even 13-3 they will have earned it. As for the competition, Broncos finish season with Patriots, Chiefs, and Raiders - probably as tough a schedule as is out there. And the Chiefs still have @ATL, OAK, and DEN. My guess is that the division winner will have 4 losses and a tiebreaker will be used to determine it.
AFC North: 2-way race between Ravens and Steelers, both at 6-5. Ravens won the first matchup so have upper hand here. Beyond the H2H game left, Ravens only have Patriots as 'difficult' matchup left. Steelers only have Giants left. Edge to Steelers on schedule. I haven't played all the scenarios out, but I think if Steelers win the H2H they likely win the division.
AFC South: Texans leading the division with a healthy -42 point differential (only three teams worse in conference). Houston has all 'winnable' games left (@GBP, @IND, JAX, CIN, @TEN). Titans next two games are Broncos and Chiefs. I think Houston wins the division at 9-7 (wins over Indy, Jacksonville, Cincy).