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AFC NOTES
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE TAKING SHAPE
The countdown begins as the NFL calendar turns to December.
Among the teams seeking to strengthen their position in the AFC playoff race are the Indianapolis Colts (7-4), who have already made a five-win improvement from a 2-14 record in 2011. The Colts, who aim to reach the postseason for the 10th time in the past 11 seasons, travel to Detroit to face the Lions in Week 13 (CBS, 1:00 PM ET).
"It's December, but the process is still the same," says Colts interim head coach and offensive coordinator BRUCE ARIANS. "Stay with it one play at a time, one day at a time and don't get caught up in all that. The team philosophy is that we just keep winning. Just stay within the moment."
Following is the remaining strength of schedule for the eight AFC teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot:
AFC EAST
|
TEAM |
NEW ENGLAND (8-3) |
MIAMI (5-6) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
30-24-1 (.555) |
30-24-1 (.555) |
|
WEEK 13 |
at Miami (5-6) |
New England (8-3) |
|
WEEK 14 |
Houston (10-1) |
at San Francisco (8-2-1) |
|
WEEK 15 |
San Francisco (8-2-1) |
Jacksonville (2-9) |
|
WEEK 16 |
at Jacksonville (2-9) |
Buffalo (4-7) |
|
WEEK 17 |
Miami (5-6) |
at New England (8-3) |
AFC NORTH
|
TEAM |
BALTIMORE (9-2) |
PITTSBURGH (6-5) |
CINCINNATI (6-5) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
32-23 (.582) |
27-28 (.491) |
27-28 (.491) |
|
WEEK 13 |
Pittsburgh (6-5) |
at Baltimore (9-2) |
at San Diego (4-7) |
|
WEEK 14 |
at Washington (5-6) |
San Diego (4-7) |
Dallas (5-6) |
|
WEEK 15 |
Denver (8-3) |
at Dallas (5-6) |
at Philadelphia (3-8) |
|
WEEK 16 |
New York Giants (7-4) |
Cincinnati (6-5) |
at Pittsburgh (6-5) |
|
WEEK 17 |
at Cincinnati (6-5) |
Cleveland (3-8) |
Baltimore (9-2) |
AFC SOUTH
|
TEAM |
HOUSTON (10-1) |
INDIANAPOLIS (7-4) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
32-23 (.582) |
29-26 (.527) |
|
WEEK 13 |
at Tennessee (4-7) |
at Detroit (4-7) |
|
WEEK 14 |
at New England (8-3) |
Tennessee (4-7) |
|
WEEK 15 |
Indianapolis (7-4) |
at Houston (10-1) |
|
WEEK 16 |
Minnesota (6-5) |
at Kansas City (1-10) |
|
WEEK 17 |
at Indianapolis (7-4) |
Houston (10-1) |
AFC WEST
|
TEAM |
DENVER (8-3) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
22-33 (.400) |
|
WEEK 13 |
Tampa Bay (6-5) |
|
WEEK 14 |
at Oakland (3-8) |
|
WEEK 15 |
at Baltimore (9-2) |
|
WEEK 16 |
Cleveland (3-8) |
|
WEEK 17 |
Kansas City (1-10) |
NFC NOTES
PLAYOFF RACES IN FULL SWING AS NFC CLUBS VIE FOR POSITION
As the NFL enters Week 13, there are 19 teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot, including 11 in the NFC.
The Minnesota Vikings have the toughest remaining schedule among those NFC clubs, facing opponents with a combined 36-18-1 (.664) mark.
The remaining strength of schedule for the 11 NFC teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot:
NFC EAST
|
TEAM |
NEW YORK GIANTS (7-4) |
DALLAS (5-6) |
WASHINGTON (5-6) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
32-23 (.582) |
25-30 (.455) |
27-28 (.491) |
|
WEEK 13 |
at Washington (5-6) |
Philadelphia (3-8) |
New York Giants (7-4) |
|
WEEK 14 |
New Orleans (5-6) |
at Cincinnati (6-5) |
Baltimore (9-2) |
|
WEEK 15 |
at Atlanta (10-1) |
Pittsburgh (6-5) |
at Cleveland (3-8) |
|
WEEK 16 |
at Baltimore (9-2) |
New Orleans (5-6) |
at Philadelphia (3-8) |
|
WEEK 17 |
Philadelphia (3-8) |
at Washington (5-6) |
Dallas (5-6) |
NFC NORTH
|
TEAM |
CHICAGO (8-3) |
GREEN BAY (7-4) |
MINNESOTA (6-5) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
27-28 (.491) |
28-27 (.509) |
36-18-1 (.664) |
|
WEEK 13 |
Seattle (6-5) |
Minnesota (6-5) |
at Green Bay (7-4) |
|
WEEK 14 |
at Minnesota (6-5) |
Detroit (4-7) |
Chicago (8-3) |
|
WEEK 15 |
Green Bay (7-4) |
at Chicago (8-3) |
at St. Louis (4-6-1) |
|
WEEK 16 |
at Arizona (4-7) |
Tennessee (4-7) |
at Houston (10-1) |
|
WEEK 17 |
at Detroit (4-7) |
at Minnesota (6-5) |
Green Bay (7-4) |
NFC SOUTH
|
TEAM |
ATLANTA (10-1) |
TAMPA BAY (6-5) |
NEW ORLEANS (5-6) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
25-30 (.455) |
30-24-1 (.555) |
31-24 (.564) |
|
WEEK 13 |
New Orleans (5-6) |
at Denver (8-3) |
at Atlanta (10-1) |
|
WEEK 14 |
at Carolina (3-8) |
Philadelphia (3-8) |
at New York Giants (7-4) |
|
WEEK 15 |
New York Giants (7-4) |
at New Orleans (5-6) |
Tampa Bay (6-5) |
|
WEEK 16 |
at Detroit (4-7) |
St. Louis (4-6-1) |
at Dallas (5-6) |
|
WEEK 17 |
Tampa Bay (6-5) |
at Atlanta (10-1) |
Carolina (3-8) |
NFC WEST
|
TEAM |
SAN FRANCISCO (8-2-1) |
SEATTLE (6-5) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
27-27-1 (.500) |
28-25-2 (.527) |
|
WEEK 13 |
at St. Louis (4-6-1) |
at Chicago (8-3) |
|
WEEK 14 |
Miami (5-6) |
Arizona (4-7) |
|
WEEK 15 |
at New England (8-3) |
at Buffalo (in Toronto) (4-7) |
|
WEEK 16 |
at Seattle (6-5) |
San Francisco (8-2-1) |
|
WEEK 17 |
Arizona (4-7) |
St. Louis (4-6-1) |
