The countdown begins as the NFL calendar turns to December.
Among the teams seeking to strengthen their position in a tight AFC playoff race are the New York Jets (9-2), who are tied for the NFL's best record with the New England Patriots (9-2) and Atlanta Falcons (9-2). The Jets, who have the toughest remaining schedule of the contenders, facing teams with a combined 33-22 (.600) record, are preparing this week for an AFC East showdown against the Patriots on Monday Night Football. Jets head coach REX RYAN, who led his team to the AFC Championship Game a year ago, is cognizant of what awaits.
"Everything we do is about winning in December and January," says Ryan. "That's where we've got to be at our best. I have all the confidence in the world that we can do exactly that. We push our guys in the weight room. That's so we can be stronger in December and January. We actually make some gains in the season. It's not just about staying where we are. We actually try to make gains. We think that's an advantage to our football team later in the year."
Following is the remaining strength of schedule for the 12 AFC teams within one game of .500 or better :
AFC EAST
|
TEAM |
NY JETS (9-2) |
NEW ENGLAND (9-2) |
MIAMI (6-5) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
33-22 (.600) |
32-23 (.582) |
26-29 (.473) |
|
WEEK 13 |
at New England (9-2) |
NY Jets (9-2) |
Cleveland (4-7) |
|
WEEK 14 |
Miami (6-5) |
at Chicago (8-3) |
at NY Jets (9-2) |
|
WEEK 15 |
at Pittsburgh (8-3) |
Green Bay (7-4) |
Buffalo (2-9) |
|
WEEK 16 |
at Chicago (8-3) |
at Buffalo (2-9) |
Detroit (2-9) |
|
WEEK 17 |
Buffalo (2-9) |
Miami (6-5) |
at New England (9-2) |
AFC NORTH
|
TEAM |
BALTIMORE (8-3) |
PITTSBURGH (8-3) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
27-28 (.491) |
24-31 (.436) |
|
WEEK 13 |
Pittsburgh (8-3) |
at Baltimore (8-3) |
|
WEEK 14 |
at Houston (5-6) |
Cincinnati (2-9) |
|
WEEK 15 |
New Orleans (8-3) |
NY Jets (9-2) |
|
WEEK 16 |
at Cleveland (4-7) |
Carolina (1-10) |
|
WEEK 17 |
Cincinnati (2-9) |
at Cleveland (4-7) |
AFC SOUTH
|
TEAM |
JACKSONVILLE (6-5) |
INDIANAPOLIS (6-5) |
HOUSTON (5-6) |
TENNESSEE (5-6) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
26-29 (.473) |
24-31 (.436) |
29-26 (.527) |
30-25 (.545) |
|
WEEK 13 |
at Tennessee (5-6) |
Dallas (3-8) |
at Philadelphia (7-4) |
Jacksonville (6-5) |
|
WEEK 14 |
Oakland (5-6) |
at Tennessee (5-6) |
Baltimore (8-3) |
Indianapolis (6-5) |
|
WEEK 15 |
at Indianapolis (6-5) |
Jacksonville (6-5) |
at Tennessee (5-6) |
Houston (5-6) |
|
WEEK 16 |
Washington (5-6) |
at Oakland (5-6) |
at Denver (3-8) |
at Kansas City (7-4) |
|
WEEK 17 |
at Houston (5-6) |
Tennessee (5-6) |
Jacksonville (6-5) |
at Indianapolis (6-5) |
AFC WEST
|
TEAM |
KANSAS CITY (7-4) |
SAN DIEGO (6-5) |
OAKLAND (5-6) |
|
OPP. RECORD |
24-31 (.436) |
21-34 (.382) |
28-27 (.509) |
|
WEEK 13 |
Denver (3-8) |
Oakland (5-6) |
at San Diego (6-5) |
|
WEEK 14 |
at San Diego (6-5) |
Kansas City (7-4) |
at Jacksonville (6-5) |
|
WEEK 15 |
at St. Louis (5-6) |
San Francisco (4-7) |
Denver (3-8) |
|
WEEK 16 |
Tennessee (5-6) |
at Cincinnati (2-9) |
Indianapolis (6-5) |
|
WEEK 17 |
Oakland (5-6) |
at Denver (3-8) |
at Kansas City (7-4) |
