AFC
Locks
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– BYE
Week 15– vs Buffalo Bills
Week 16– at Baltimore Ravens
Week 17– at New York Jets
Week 18– vs Miami Dolphins
Patriots are in the drivers seat for the AFC East title, even with a loss to Buffalo they’d be a game up. Tight battle with Denver for #1 seed, might need to go 4-0 to get it.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 15– vs Green Bay Packers
Week 16– vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 17– at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 18– vs Los Angeles Chargers
Assuming Broncos take care of business versus Vegas, they’ll be tied with New England in the race for #1 seed. The road for Denver, however, is much tougher. Their last four games could all have major playoff implications. They could officially eliminate the Chiefs in week 17.
Controlling Their Destiny, for now
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– vs Indianapolis Colts
Week 15– vs New York Jets
Week 16– at Denver Broncos
Week 17– at Indianapolis Colts
Week 18– vs Tennessee Titans
Jaguars have two huge matchups with Indianapolis down the stretch. If they can split with Indy & take care of business against the Jets & Titans, they should get a playoff spot, possibly win the division.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 15– at Seattle Seahawks
Week 16– vs San Francisco 49ers
Week 17– vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 18– at Houston Texans
Colts are currently tied for first with Jacksonville & they play the Jaguars twice down the stretch. It feels like Indy needs to win both of those to have any shot at the playoffs because their schedule is very tough. After dominating the first two months of the season, the Colts could very well miss the playoffs.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– vs Cincinnati Bengals
Week 15– at New England Patriots
Week 16– at Cleveland Browns
Week 17– vs Philadelphia Eagles
Week 18– vs New York Jets
Barring a complete collapse, the Bills should make the playoffs. The division, however, may be out of reach. Even if they win in New England, they’ll need help to overtake the Patriots.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– vs Philadelphia Eagles
Week 15– at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 16– at Dallas Cowboys
Week 17– vs Houston Texans
Week 18– at Denver
The Chargers currently occupy a playoff spot and they trail Denver by 2 in the AFC West, but they have a very difficult schedule & they’ve had a rash of injuries. They control their own destiny for the postseason, but it might be fleeting.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 15– at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 16– vs New England Patriots
Week 17– at Green Bay Packers
Week 18– at Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore controls their own destiny because they have two games versus Pittsburgh and one against Cincinnati. Win those three and they should take the AFC North. Lose one or more and they likely miss the playoffs because their other games are tough.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Baltimore Ravens
Week 15– vs Miami Dolphins
Week 16– at Detroit Lions
Week 17– at Cleveland Browns
Week 18– vs Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh needs at least a split with Baltimore and probably a win versus Cleveland to have a shot. They have a slightly easier schedule than Baltimore, but they’ve been faltering.
Lurking
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 15– vs Arizona Cardinals
Week 16– vs Las Vegas Raiders
Week 17– at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 18– vs Indianapolis Colts
The battle with Kansas City is huge. With a win they could solidify their position and all but eliminate the Chiefs. Houston has a favorable schedule down the stretch and a real shot to make up the one game deficit and win the AFC South.
Needing Help
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– vs Houston Texans
Week 15– vs Los Angeles Chargers
Week 16– at Tennessee Titans
Week 17– vs Denver Broncos
Week 18– at Las Vegas Raiders
The Chiefs run of AFC West titles is pretty much over and they have little margin for error in the race for a wildcard, but as long as they have a pulse you cannot count them out.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at New York Jets
Week 15– at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 16– vs Cincinnati Bengals
Week 17– vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 18– at New England Patriots
The Dolphins need to run the table to have any chance. A tall task, but possible, especially since New England might have nothing to play for in the final week.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Buffalo Bills
Week 15– vs Baltimore Ravens
Week 16– at Miami Dolphins
Week 17– vs Arizona Cardinals
Week 18– vs Cleveland Browns
Cincy dug a deep hole for themselves during Joe Burrow’s absence, but somehow they’re still alive. Buffalo isn’t necessarily a must win, if they can win their last 4 they could have a shot.
My Picks
- DENVER BRONCOS (AFC West Champion)
- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (AFC East Champion)
- HOUSTON TEXANS (AFC South Champion)
- CINCINNATI BENGALS (AFC North Champion)
- BUFFALO BILLS
- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
NFC
Locks
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Arizona Cardinals
Week 15– vs Detroit Lions
Week 16– at Seattle Seahawks
Week 17– at Atlanta Falcons
Week 18– vs Arizona Cardinals
The week 16 battle with Seattle looms large, it could decide the division & possibly the #1 seed.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Atlanta Falcons
Week 15– vs Indianapolis Colts
Week 16– vs Los Angeles Rams
Week 17– at Carolina Panthers
Week 18– at San Francisco 49ers
Again, that week 16 matchup with the Rams is huge. Seattle will make the playoffs, but if they lose to LA & San Francisco they could end up with the 7 seed.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 15– vs Las Vegas Raiders
Week 16– at Washington Commanders
Week 17– at Buffalo Bills
Week 18– vs Washington Commanders
It would take an epic collapse for Philly not to win the division or make the playoffs. Number one seed is still in play, but I think LA or Seattle will pull away with that.
Controlling their Destiny, sort of
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Green Bay Packers
Week 15– vs Cleveland Browns
Week 16– vs Green Bay Packers
Week 17– at San Francisco 49ers
Week 18– vs Detroit Lions
Those two Packers games probably decide the division. If Chicago defends their home field, they’ll win the NFC North. Probably need a minimum 4-1 to get the #1 seed.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– vs Chicago Bears
Week 15– at Denver Broncos
Week 16– at Chicago Bears
Week 17– vs Baltimore Ravens
Week 18– at Minnesota Vikings
Green Bay probably needs to sweep Chicago to win the division. Not an easy road, but the Packers should make the playoffs.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– vs New Orleans Saints
Week 15– vs Atlanta Falcons
Week 16– at Carolina Panthers
Week 17– at Miami Dolphins
Week 18– vs Carolina Panthers
Those two games with Carolina will decide the division. Bucs have an outside shot of a wildcard, but it seems like winning the division is their best bet.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– BYE
Week 15– vs Tennessee
Week 16– at Indianapolis Colts
Week 17– vs Chicago Bears
Week 18– vs Seattle Seahawks
Niners are a near lock for the playoffs and they’re right there in the NFC West race, but they need help. The final two versus Chicago & Seattle could determine seeding.
Right There
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– BYE
Week 15– at New Orleans Saints
Week 16– vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 17– vs Seattle Seahawks
Week 18– at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Panthers best bet is to win the NFC South, and the two games against Tampa should decide the division.
Need Help
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– vs Dallas Cowboys
Week 15– at Los Angeles Rams
Week 16– vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 17– at Minnesota Vikings
Week 18– at Chicago Bears
Lions have little margin for error. It feels like the Dallas game is a must win for both. Their division hopes are probably lost.
Remaining Schedule
Week 14– at Detroit Lions
Week 15– vs Minnesota Vikings
Week 16– vs Los Angeles Chargers
Week 17– at Washington Commanders
Week 18– at New York Giants
Dallas has no margin for error. Any loss probably eliminates them from division contention & playoff contention.
My Picks
- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (NFC West Champion)
- CHICAGO BEARS (NFC NORTH Champion)
- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (NFC East Champion)
- TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (NFC South Champion)
- LOS ANGELES RAMS
- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
- GREEN BAY PACKERS
