The New England Patriots keep riding high. Following their 32-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, they have now won five straight games and remain in a good position in the race for the postseason.
Owning a 6-2 record, they remain the top team in the AFC East and on track to host a playoff game come January. Obviously, there is a long way to go before that happens, but with just the Sunday and Monday night games of Week 8 missing, here is what the playoff picture in the AFC currently looks
like:
- Indianapolis Colts (7-1)
- New England Patriots (6-2)
- Denver Broncos (6-2)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
- Buffalo Bills (5-2)
- Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)
On the bubble: 8. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3), 9. Houston Texans (3-4)
Not technically eliminated but let’s be real here: 10. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5), 11. Las Vegas Raiders (2-5), 12. Baltimore Ravens (2-5), 13. Cleveland Browns (2-6), 14. Miami Dolphins (2-6), 15. New York Jets (1-7), 16. Tennessee Titans (1-7)
It is looking increasingly likely that no more than eight or nine teams will end up competing for the playoffs in the AFC. The Chiefs are a legitimate threat for one of the top seven spots, while Houston has had some positive moments this season as well. The Bengals, meanwhile, just allowed the previously winless Jets to earn their first victory of the season and since the loss of quarterback Joe Burrow have not played playoff-worthy football.
For the Patriots, of course, this is welcome news. While they are very much in control of their own destiny at this point, the more teams play themselves out of the picture, the more wiggle room they get.
