AFC Playoff Picture

By Dean Michaels

AFC Division Titles and Home-Field Advantage Up for Grabs

Two weeks remain in the NFL regular season and 11 AFC teams are still in contention for a trip to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. The AFC late-season drama features two division titles (AFC North and West), one Wild Card spot and home-field advantage still on the line entering Week 16.

The New England Patriots (11-3), who own the AFC's best record, will host divisional foes Miami and Buffalo in the final two weeks of the regular season. New England clinched the AFC East for the third consecutive season last week and has hopes of securing a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

"We have a competitive division," says Patriots safety JAMES IHEDIGBO. "A lot of great teams and to work as hard as we have this year and come out on top, it's a big step in the right direction. We have a few more championships to win, though."

The best records against division opponents in the final two games of a season since 2006:

 

Baltimore Ravens head coach JOHN HARBAUGH, whose club is tied atop of the AFC North with the Steelers at 10-4, will face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday (CBS, 1:00 PM ET). The Ravens can clinch their first AFC North division title since 2006 with a win and a Pittsburgh loss. The Ravens conclude their season at division rival Cincinnati in Week 17.

"We still have to win our next two games, starting with the Browns," says Harbaugh, whose club has already clinched a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season. "That's the thing we can control. We have complete control over the next two weeks as far as what we do."

The Denver Broncos (8-6) enjoy a one-game lead atop the AFC West and travel to Buffalo in Week 16 (CBS, 1:00 PM ET).

"We'll take it one day at a time," says Broncos quarterback TIM TEBOW. "We're excited about where we're at, and we're going to continue to be positive and stay motivated and just try to improve, like we've done every single day in practice."

The best records among AFC teams against intra-conference opponents since 2006:

 

Following is a breakdown of the AFC division races:

AFC EAST: New England (11-3) has clinched the AFC East division title.

AFC NORTH: Baltimore (10-4) and Pittsburgh (10-4) remain in contention for the AFC North division title.

AFC SOUTH: Houston (10-4) has clinched the AFC South division title.

AFC WEST: Denver (8-6), Oakland (7-7), San Diego (7-7) and Kansas City (6-8) remain in contention for the AFC West division title. Note: Kansas City can qualify for the postseason by winning the AFC West, not as a Wild Card.

AFC Teams in Wild Card contention:

 

AFC Playoff Picture

CLINCHED:

Houston - AFC South

New England - AFC East

Baltimore - Playoff spot

Pittsburgh - Playoff spot

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

New England clinches a first-round bye with:

1) Patriots win + Texans loss or tie OR

2) Patriots win + Steelers loss or tie + Ravens loss or tie OR

3) Patriots tie + Texans loss OR

4) Patriots tie + Steelers loss + Ravens loss

New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

1) Patriots win + Texans loss or tie + Steelers loss or tie + Ravens loss or tie

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Baltimore clinches AFC North division with:

1) Ravens win + Steelers loss

Baltimore clinches a first-round bye with:

1) Ravens win + Steelers loss + Texans loss

DENVER BRONCOS

Denver clinches AFC West division with:

1) Broncos win + Raiders loss or tie OR

2) Broncos tie + Raiders loss + Chargers loss or tie

Denver clinches a playoff spot with:

1) Broncos win + Jets loss + Bengals loss + Titans loss or tie

 

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NFL 2011 - AFC Playoff Picture - AFC Division Titles & Home-Field Advantage Up for Grabs