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 Kansas City Chiefs (9-2), who host the Denver Broncos (9-2) on Sunday (CBS, 4:25 ET). The winner of Chiefs-Broncos would control their own destiny in hopes for the AFC West title and No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs with four games remaining.
Chiefs first-year head coach Andy Reid, who led the Eagles to nine postseason appearances in 14 seasons, including five NFC Championship Game appearances and one trip to the Super Bowl, is aware of what awaits.
"This is what's fun about this business," says Reid. "You get to this time of the year and you're in the hunt, what a beautiful thing that is. You remember where this thing started, way back in February and March. You have an opportunity where these games mean something. That's the exciting part of it."
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who has guided his team to an NFL-best 47-8 (.855) record in December since 2000, knows the importance of the coming weeks.
"I would say that the season for us is kind of starting now," says Belichick. "What happens this year will be determined by what happens in the next five weeks. This is where this team and every other team will define itself."
The remaining strength of schedule for the 14 AFC teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot:
AFC East
| Team | New England (8-3) | New York Jets (5-6) | Miami (5-6) | Buffalo (4-7) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: NFL | ||||
| OPP. RECORD | 20-35 (.364) | 26-29 (.473) | 27-28 (.491) | 20-35 (.364) |
| WEEK 13 | at Houston (2-9) | Miami (5-6) | at New York Jets (5-6) | Atlanta (2-9) |
| WEEK 14 | Cleveland (4-7) | Oakland (4-7) | at Pittsburgh (5-6) | at Tampa Bay (3-8) |
| WEEK 15 | at Miami (5-6) | at Carolina (8-3) | New England (8-3) | at Jacksonville (2-9) |
| WEEK 16 | at Baltimore (5-6) | Cleveland (4-7) | at Buffalo (4-7) | Miami (5-6) |
| WEEK 17 | Buffalo (4-7) | at Miami (5-6) | New York Jets (5-6) | at New England (8-3) |
AFC North
| Team | Cincinnati (7-4) | Pittsburgh (5-6) | Baltimore (5-6) | Cleveland (4-7) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: NFL | ||||
| OPP. RECORD | 24-30-1 (.445) | 26-28-1 (.482) | 28-26-1 (.518) | 26-29 (.473) |
| WEEK 13 | at San Diego (5-6) | at Baltimore (5-6) | Pittsburgh (5-6) | Jacksonville (2-9) |
| WEEK 14 | Indianapolis (7-4) | Miami (5-6) | Minnesota (2-8-1) | at New England (8-3) |
| WEEK 15 | at Pittsburgh (5-6) | Cincinnati (7-4) | at Detroit (6-5) | Chicago (6-5) |
| WEEK 16 | Minnesota (2-8-1) | at Green Bay (5-5-1) | New England (8-3) | at New York Jets (5-6) |
| WEEK 17 | Baltimore (5-6) | Cleveland (4-7) | at Cincinnati (7-4) | at Pittsburgh (5-6) |
AFC South
| Team | Indianapolis (7-4) | Tennessee (5-6) |
|---|---|---|
| Source: NFL | ||
| OPP. RECORD | 25-30 (.455) | 27-28 (.491) |
| WEEK 13 | Tennessee (5-6) | at Indianapolis (7-4) |
| WEEK 14 | at Cincinnati (7-4) | at Denver (9-2) |
| WEEK 15 | Houston (2-9) | Arizona (7-4) |
| WEEK 16 | at Kansas City (9-2) | at Jacksonville (2-9) |
| WEEK 17 | Jacksonville (2-9) | Houston (2-9) |
AFC West
| Team | Denver (9-2) | Kansas City (9-2) | San Diego (5-6) | Oakland (4-7) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: NFL | ||||
| OPP. RECORD | 25-30 (.455) | 28-27 (.509) | 33-22 (.600) | 34-21 (.618) |
| WEEK 13 | at Kansas City (9-2) | Denver (9-2) | Cincinnati (7-4) | at Dallas (6-5) |
| WEEK 14 | Tennessee (5-6) | at Washington (3-8) | New York Giants (4-7) | at New York Jets (5-6) |
| WEEK 15 | San Diego (5-6) | at Oakland (4-7) | at Denver (9-2) | Kansas City (9-2) |
| WEEK 16 | at Houston (2-9) | Indianapolis (7-4) | Oakland (4-7) | at San Diego (5-6) |
| WEEK 17 | at Oakland (4-7) | at San Diego (5-6) | Kansas City (9-2) | Denver (9-2) |
NFL Football News & Analysis
NFL Football News & Analysis [...]
- Week 13 Kicks Off With Thanksgiving Tripleheader
- AFC Playoff Picture Taking Shape
- NFC Playoff Races in Full Swing
- NFL 2013 Week 13: What To Look For
- NFL 2013 Week 12: The Week That Was
- NFL 2013 Week 12 Preview: 23 Teams Still in the Playoff Hunt
- Patriots Host Broncos in Critical Week 12 Matchup
- Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady
- Revived Giants Host Cowboys in Crucial NFC East Battle
- NFL 2013 Week 12 Preview: Panthers and Dolphins Face Off in Miami
- NFL 2013 Week 12: What To Look For
- London Fletcher Reaches Milestone
- NFL 2013 Week 11: AFC Players of the Week
- NFL 2013 Week 11: NFC Players of the Week
- NFL 2013 Week 11: The Week That Was
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AFC Playoff Picture Taking Shape