More contenders than 2
Despite lofty position of Chiefs, Steelers, others out to prove themselves
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are already in. No surprise for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers are undefeated no more, but they ’re also on the verge of clinching an AFC playoff spot.
After that, well, there are plenty of other contenders who might have something to say about the conference being just a top-heavy twosome.
Buffalo and Cleveland are 9-3, with Tennessee, Miami and Indianapolis all 8-4. They’d all be in the playoffs right now with this season’s expanded, seven-team format.
Baltimore and Las Vegas are still in the mix at 7-5. And it’s never smart to count out a Bill Belichick-coached team, especially with New England surging with four wins in its past five games to get to .500 at 6-6.
AFC East
Josh Allen and the Bills could make a massive statement when they take on the Steelers at home Sunday night. The third-year quarterback has played his way into the MVP conversation and another impressive performance — and a win — would justify that buzz. It would also put Buffalo well in line for its first division title since 1995.
But the Dolphins are still swimming right there with the Bills. Miami and rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are just a game behind Buffalo in the race for the division and play host to the Chiefs on Sunday. Still, there’s a chance the regular
season finale at Buffalo on Jan. 3 could decide who finishes on top.
The Patriots have been that team for 11 consecutive years — with Tom Brady at quarterback, of course — but that streak appears in serious jeopardy.
AFC North
The Steelers were cruising along, giving those undefeated 1972 Dolphins something to think about when — whoa! — the Washington Football Team dashed any dreams of perfection in Pittsburgh with a stunning 23-17 upset Monday night.
Now, winning the division is far from a certainty, especially with Baker Mayfield and the Browns on a four-game winning streak and looking like the scary squad many have been expecting. Pittsburgh still has a two-game lead and could clinch with a win and a Browns loss to Baltimore, but the division could come down to these two playing in what will likely be chilly Cleveland in the regular-season finale.
Oh, and don’t forget about
Baltimore, which might be out of the division race but got Lamar Jackson back from a one-game COVID -19 absence and snapped a three-game skid with a 34-17 win over Dallas on Tuesday night.
AFC South
Tennessee and Indianapolis split their two regular-season meetings and fittingly sit tied atop the division with four games left. Ryan Tannehill and the Titans would seem to have the easier path to winning the South — which would be their first division title since 2008 — with only one team with a winning record (Green Bay at 9-3) remaining on their schedule.
Meanwhile, the Colts are winners of three of their last four.
AFC West
The Chiefs earned a playoff berth last week and would have already clinched their fifth straight division title if not for the Raiders pulling off a stunning 31-28 victory at the New York Jets last Sunday.