OrangeHoof
11-22-2009, 06:48 PM
Assuming John Elway doesn't suit up and lead the Broncos to a miracle comeback, Denver falls out of first in the AFC West for the first time this season. But don't get too glum.
The four division leaders are clear (NE 7-3, Cin 7-3, Ind 10-0, SD 7-3) but there are three teams tied for the two wild card slots and four if Houston beats Tennessee on Monday Night.
Here's what each team faces down the stretch:
Denver (6-4, 2-1 division, 5-3 AFC)
==========================
11/26 vs NY Giants
12/06 at Kansas City
12/13 at Indianapolis
12/20 vs Oakland
12/27 at Philadelphia
01/03 vs Kansas City
projection: If they can top the Giants for Thanksgiving, they're looking at a possible 10-6 record and 8-4 conference record.
Jacksonville (6-4, 2-2 division, 5-2 AFC)
==============================
11/29 at San Francisco
12/06 vs Houston
12/13 vs Miami
12/17 vs Indianapolis
12/27 at New England
01/03 at Cleveland
projection: Jags are tough to figure but I see a 3-3 finish here which would make them 9-7 and 7-5 in the conference.
Pittsburgh (6-4, 1-2 division, 4-3 AFC)
===============================
11/29 at Baltimore
12/06 vs Oakland
12/10 at Cleveland
12/20 vs Green Bay
12/27 vs Baltimore
01/03 at Miami
projection: They're a different team when Polamalu is out and Roethlisberger gets his bell rung. But given their ability to survive, I think they'll finish 10-6 with a 7-5 conference record. They also have the head-to-head tiebreaker with Denver.
Houston (5-4, 1-2 division, 4-3 AFC) * - doesn't include Monday nighter.
===============================
11/29 vs Indianapolis
12/06 at Jacksonville
12/13 vs Seattle
12/20 at St. Louis
12/27 at Miami
01/03 vs New England
projection: looks like a 9-7 finish which will be a franchise high. But don't overlook Houston's historic dominance over Florida teams. The next two weekends will tell us a lot.
One game back:
================================
Baltimore (5-5, 2-2 division, 5-4 conference)
Miami (5-5, 3-1 division, 3-3 conference)
The four division leaders are clear (NE 7-3, Cin 7-3, Ind 10-0, SD 7-3) but there are three teams tied for the two wild card slots and four if Houston beats Tennessee on Monday Night.
Here's what each team faces down the stretch:
Denver (6-4, 2-1 division, 5-3 AFC)
==========================
11/26 vs NY Giants
12/06 at Kansas City
12/13 at Indianapolis
12/20 vs Oakland
12/27 at Philadelphia
01/03 vs Kansas City
projection: If they can top the Giants for Thanksgiving, they're looking at a possible 10-6 record and 8-4 conference record.
Jacksonville (6-4, 2-2 division, 5-2 AFC)
==============================
11/29 at San Francisco
12/06 vs Houston
12/13 vs Miami
12/17 vs Indianapolis
12/27 at New England
01/03 at Cleveland
projection: Jags are tough to figure but I see a 3-3 finish here which would make them 9-7 and 7-5 in the conference.
Pittsburgh (6-4, 1-2 division, 4-3 AFC)
===============================
11/29 at Baltimore
12/06 vs Oakland
12/10 at Cleveland
12/20 vs Green Bay
12/27 vs Baltimore
01/03 at Miami
projection: They're a different team when Polamalu is out and Roethlisberger gets his bell rung. But given their ability to survive, I think they'll finish 10-6 with a 7-5 conference record. They also have the head-to-head tiebreaker with Denver.
Houston (5-4, 1-2 division, 4-3 AFC) * - doesn't include Monday nighter.
===============================
11/29 vs Indianapolis
12/06 at Jacksonville
12/13 vs Seattle
12/20 at St. Louis
12/27 at Miami
01/03 vs New England
projection: looks like a 9-7 finish which will be a franchise high. But don't overlook Houston's historic dominance over Florida teams. The next two weekends will tell us a lot.
One game back:
================================
Baltimore (5-5, 2-2 division, 5-4 conference)
Miami (5-5, 3-1 division, 3-3 conference)