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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)
