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AFC News and Notes
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE WITH TWO WEEKS TO GO
Two weeks remain in the NFL regular season and nine AFC teams are still in contention for a trip to Super Bowl XLVIII.
With every game of vital importance, momentum is essential as teams look to the postseason.
"The teams that have the momentum at the end of the year can be the most dangerous ones to face," says ESPN analyst and former Patriots linebacker TEDY BRUSCHI.
The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens face New England on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium (CBS, 4:25 PM ET) in a rematch of last season's AFC Championship Game. The Ravens, who defeated Detroit, 18-16 in Week 15, have won four consecutive games, tied for the NFL's longest active winning streak (SAN FRANCISCO).
Baltimore is currently in control of the AFC's final Wild Card spot and is still in contention for the AFC North title.
"We are playing our best football right now and we are going to have to continue to improve for what we have in front of us down the stretch," says Ravens head coach JOHN HARBAUGH. "The thing I like about our football team is that we are a team of faith. We believe. We will run the race right down to the end."
A breakdown of the AFC division races:
AFC EAST: New England (10-4) and Miami (8-6) remain in contention for the AFC East division title.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
New England
10-4
3-2
7-3
.429
.474
Miami
8-6
2-2
7-3
.491
.520
AFC NORTH: Cincinnati (9-5) and Baltimore (8-6) remain in contention for the AFC North division title.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
Cincinnati
9-5
2-3
7-4
.488
.487
Baltimore
8-6
3-2
6-4
.415
.449
AFC SOUTH: Indianapolis (9-5) has clinched the AFC South division title.
AFC WEST: Denver (11-3) and Kanas City (11-3) remain in contention for the AFC West division title.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
Denver
11-3
4-1
7-3
.474
.505
Kansas City
11-3
2-3
7-3
.331
.408
A breakdown of the AFC Wild Card race:
Eight teams remain in contention for a Wild Card spot. Denver, Kansas City and Indianapolis have already clinched a playoff berth.
TEAM
OVERALL
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
Denver* **
11-3
7-3
.474
.505
New England**
10-4
7-3
.429
.474
Cincinnati**
9-5
7-4
.488
.487
Kansas City*
11-3
7-3
.331
.408
Baltimore
8-6
6-4
.415
.449
Miami
8-6
7-3
.491
.520
San Diego
7-7
4-6
.561
.495
Pittsburgh
6-8
5-6
.464
.487
- Denver and Kansas City has already clinched a playoff berth
** Denver, Cincinnati and New England lead their respective divisions
The remaining schedule for the nine AFC teams still in contention for a trip to Super Bowl XLVIII:
AFC EAST
TEAM
NEW ENGLAND
MIAMI
WEEK 16
at Baltimore
at Buffalo
WEEK 17
Buffalo
New York Jets
AFC NORTH
TEAM
CINCINNATI
BALTIMORE
PITTSBURGH
WEEK 16
Minnesota
New England
at Green Bay
WEEK 17
Baltimore
at Cincinnati
Cleveland
AFC SOUTH
TEAM
INDIANAPOLIS
WEEK 16
at Kansas City
WEEK 17
Jacksonville
AFC WEST
TEAM
DENVER
KANSAS CITY
SAN DIEGO
WEEK 16
at Houston
Indianapolis
Oakland
WEEK 17
at Oakland
at San Diego
Kansas City
NFC News and Notes
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE WITH TWO WEEKS TO GO
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, 10 NFC teams are still in contention for a trip to Super Bowl XLVIII.
NFC DIVISIONS
All four divisions are still be determined.
A breakdown of the NFC division races:
NFC EAST: Philadelphia and Dallas remain in contention for the NFC East division title. Both the Eagles and Cowboys, who meet in Week 17, are in control of their destiny in the division race.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
Philadelphia
8-6
3-2
7-3
.379
.449
Dallas
7-7
4-0
6-4
.362
.495
NFC NORTH: Chicago, Green Bay and Detroit remain in contention for the NFC North division title. The Bears and Packers, who meet in Week 17, are in control of their fate in the division race.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
Chicago
8-6
2-3
4-6
.455
.452
Green Bay
7-6-1
2-2-1
5-5-1
.379
.454
Detroit
7-7
4-1
6-4
.429
.477
NFC SOUTH: New Orleans and Carolina remain in contention for the NFC South division title. Both the Panthers and Saints, who meet in Week 16, are in control of their destiny in the division race.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
New Orleans
10-4
4-0
8-2
.493
.526
Carolina
10-4
3-1
7-3
.439
.497
NFC WEST: Seattle and San Francisco remain in contention for the NFC West division title. The Seahawks are in control in the division race.
TEAM
OVERALL
DIVISION
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
Seattle
12-2
3-1
9-1
.438
.472
San Francisco
10-4
4-1
7-3
.418
.508
NFC WILD CARDS
Seattle has already clinched a playoff berth and currently leads the NFC West. Nine other teams remain in contention for a postseason spot. Four of those teams can qualify for a Wild Card berth.
A breakdown of the NFC Wild Card race:
TEAM
OVERALL
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
Seattle*
12-2
9-1
.438
.472
New Orleans**
10-4
8-2
.493
.526
Carolina**
10-4
7-3
.439
.497
San Francisco
10-4
7-3
.418
.508
Arizona
9-5
5-5
.405
.495
- Seattle has already clinched a playoff berth and currently leads the NFC West
** New Orleans and Carolina currently lead the NFC South
New Orleans, Carolina, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Green Bay and Dallas are each in control of their fate for at least a playoff berth.
Chicago, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Dallas and Detroit can only qualify for the postseason as a division winner.
NFC HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE AND FIRST-ROUND BYE
Four teams remain in contention for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Seattle, which has the conference's best record at 12-2, is in control for home-field advantage.
TEAM
OVERALL
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
Seattle
12-2
9-1
.438
.472
New Orleans
10-4
8-2
.493
.526
Carolina
10-4
7-3
.439
.497
San Francisco
10-4
7-3
.418
.508
Four teams remain in contention for a first-round bye. Seattle, New Orleans and Carolina are each in control for a first-round bye.
TEAM
OVERALL
CONFERENCE
STRENGTH OF VICTORY
STRENGTH OF SCHED.
Seattle
12-2
9-1
.438
.472
New Orleans
10-4
8-2
.493
.526
Carolina
10-4
7-3
.439
.497
San Francisco
10-4
7-3
.418
.508
