2021 NFL playoff pictures: ranked AFC teams compete for wild card position as the Chargers, the Colts and the Bills lead-CBSSports.com

2021-11-25 06:33:20 By : Mr. YC Store Fixture

Thanksgiving Preview and Food Draft

Covers the impact of the coronavirus on the sports world

The AFC is as unpredictable as ever. Although there are 11 weeks in the season, there are still 12 teams reaching or exceeding 0.500 points. The playoffs are so close that the No. 7 seed Buffalo Bills is only 1.5 games behind the No. 1 seed Tennessee Titans, which shows how unpredictable the meeting is as the 2021 season is about to enter the three-month mark. 

With Thanksgiving approaching, the AFC playoffs are crazier than ever, and these teams can enjoy themselves in the past seven weeks. First, before breaking down the wild card competitors, let's take a look at the division leaders. 

The head of the AFC department spent the first 11 weeks. If they win the division championship, everyone is currently locked in the playoffs. 

This is the ranking of the teams competing for the AFC wild card seat. Only three teams can make the playoffs, so the top three are obviously most likely to make the playoffs in the first 11 weeks of this year. 

The Chargers continued to beat the Steelers on Sunday night to stay in the fierce competition for the AFC Western Conference title. If Justin Herbert is on the court, the Chargers will have a chance to win every game-even though their defense is the worst in the league. The Chargers gave up a lot of points, but they have a winning formula, an elite quarterback and a passing offense that can score at any time. They will participate in this race throughout the rally, especially because Los Angeles is learning how to win evenly matched races. 

Remaining schedule: on the Broncos, on the Bengals, on the Giants, on the Chiefs, on the Texans, on the Broncos, on the Raiders 

Indianapolis has missed the AFC playoffs in 11 weeks, but the Colts have won five of the past six games and have the best running back in football, Jonathan Taylor. The Colts rebounded from 0-3 and eventually passed the 0.500 mark after beating Bill on the road, demonstrating their dominance in the trenches. Carson Wentz can't turn the ball over, but it's easy to make games that make fans scratch their heads. Indianapolis football and the way the clock is controlled, it doesn’t matter. Red zone offense (53.3% touchdown rate, eighth in the NFL) and defense (69.7% touchdown rate, fourth in the NFL) are still a problem, but Indianapolis played the best football at the right time . The Colts only need to survive against three division leaders in four games to end this year's game easily. 

Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, Texans, Goodbye Week, Patriots, Cardinals, Raiders, Jaguars

Although Buffalo was strangled by Indianapolis at home, the Bills still controlled their own destiny in the AFC playoffs. The Bills have two games with the Patriots to compete for the division championship, and have one of the easier schedules among the AFC playoffs contenders. Josh Allen did not play his best game on Sunday, but although the running back situation and offensive line are still changing, he is still the top 10 quarterback. The Bills are still the top five offense in scoring, and their defense makes their scoring second-to-last in the league, but their record is only 6-4. This team should make the playoffs, although expectations for this talented team are much higher. 

Remaining schedule: against the Saints, against the Patriots, against the Buccaneers, against the Panthers, against the Patriots, against the Falcons, against the Jets

The Bengals encountered some minor problems in the middle of the season, but the team scored the "right" game against the Raiders on Sunday. Cincinnati is only one game away from the lead of the AFC North Division and is currently in a wild card state for 11 weeks. The offenses of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Mixon are extremely explosive-because the trio gives the Bengals a chance to win every week. Cincinnati has the top 10 offensive scoring and the top 10 scoring defense, obviously will play an important role in the divisional game. This young team has not yet passed the test of the playoffs, but they are ready for the next battle. The performance of the Bengals in the last three games will determine their wild card fate. 

Remaining schedule: against the Steelers, against the Chargers, against the 49ers, against the Broncos, against the Ravens, against the Chiefs, against the Browns 

Baker Mayfield is not Cleveland's biggest problem, because the Browns' defense - full of talent - can't stop explosive offenses. Cleveland wins most weeks is ugly, let the team find the answer, and wonder if the injured Mayfield is the team's long-term answer. Once Karim Hunt recovers from the injury, this offense will become better, reducing the main burden of the passing game. Cleveland has the formula to win football games by kicking the ball at will. From 1985 to 1989, they had to weaken the defense through four quarters in order to enter the playoffs for several consecutive years. Four of their past six games have been against the AFC North, where the division is played. 

Remaining schedule: in the Ravens, goodbye week, against the Ravens, against the Raiders, in the Packers, in the Steelers, against the Bengals 

The tie between the Steelers and the unwinned Lions may be the difference between entering and missing the playoffs in the wild AFC. Najee Harris has made the Steelers' offense capable, and considering the organizers of all technical positions, this shouldn't be the case. For a team that seems to finish with a score of 0.500 or higher every year, something is wrong. The Steelers rebounded from a bad start this year, but despite all the organizers, the offense was not synchronized. The defense gave up too many yards on the ground, which is not good for a division with a team with heavy hits. Pittsburgh has not faced any team's losing record for the rest of the year, which makes the road to the playoffs even more difficult. 

Remaining schedule: in the Bengals, against the Ravens, in the Vikings, against the Titans, in the Chiefs, against the Browns, in the Ravens 

It is difficult to exclude Denver from the AFC playoffs because the Broncos are just one game, but quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is not enough to end a five-year playoff drought. The Broncos have one of the top defenses in the league, but rank in the bottom 10 in scoring. All this points to the quarterback, Denver needs to play all their talents in the technical position and offensive line in the AFC competition. If the Broncos return to health on the offensive line, they will be a tough opponent. 

Remaining schedule: against the Chargers, against the Chiefs, against the Lions, against the Bengals, against the Raiders, against the Chargers, against the Chiefs 

How did the Dolphins-a team that started 1-7-in the AFC playoffs? Winning three consecutive games will help the wild AFC, including dissatisfaction with the Ravens in just one week. Miami has its problems, but there is a very favorable schedule next month that will allow the Dolphins to return to the playoff conversation. Offense and defense are the worst in football, but the Dolphins can actually reach 8-7, thanks to their upcoming schedule. Miami can't have any flaws in the next month-otherwise the Dolphins can say goodbye to their playoff hopes. 

Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, vs. Giants, Goodbye Week, vs. Jets, vs. Saints, vs. Titans, vs. Patriots

Vegas may be a game outside of the final playoff spot, but the Raiders are facing the rapid decline of struggling Derek Carr and an interim head coach. The Raiders reached the AFC playoffs at this time of the season, which should be commendable, but this team has not scored 20 points in a single game for more than a month. This year's NFL has always been unpredictable, so don't exclude Vegas-but this team will struggle to get one of the three wild card positions in all the adversity of the organization. 

Remaining schedule: against the Cowboys, against Washington, against the Chiefs, against the Browns, against the Broncos, against the Colts, against the Chargers

These teams are not enough to make the playoffs, but technically, they are not out in the crazy AFC.

© 2004-2021 CBS Interactive. all rights reserved.

CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc.

Image courtesy of Getty Images and US Presswire