The Playoff Push

Currently, there are 14 AFC teams still in contention to make the playoffs. As the weeks dwindle down to the end of the season, the race for the playoffs begins to heat up. The last wildcard in right now is 5-6. Is it reasonable to think a .500 or even a team with a losing record could make the playoffs? I think not. The magic number for the AFC playoffs right now is nine wins, but with the littering of teams in contention, anything can happen. I believe the Steelers have a good chance to make it into the final wildcard or even take over the division. Cincinnati has not been very consistent with Andy Dalton playing subpar at best the past three games, two of which they lost two. Their remaining schedule is tough with games at San Diego and Pittsburgh along with tough games against Indianapolis and Baltimore. I believe this Thanksgiving game is a turning point for Pittsburgh. They are playing very well coming in to Thursday winning three straight games. Their defense is beginning to look like a well-oiled machine, forcing turnovers and rattling the quarterback. After this week, the Steelers play three of their last five games at home, two of which are divisional games. If Pittsburgh is to not make the playoffs, I believe the next team up for that last wildcard spot is San Diego. Phillip Rivers looks like his dominant self from two or three years ago. Although his wide receiving core is filled with a bunch of youthful talent, he still has his rock Antonio Gates. Passing is the number one form of offense in the current day NFL, and San Diego has one of the best. They were able to beat the Chiefs in a shootout, who arguably have one of the best defenses in the NFL and only lost to Denver by ten. They are one of my favorites to get the final spot to play into January. With all this being said, this playoff picture will not be decided now. It will come down to how these teams play over the next five weeks of the NFL season.