AFC playoff picture offers amazing storylines
December 27
Arizona Republic
"How crazy does this sound?
The Patriots lose franchise quarterback Tom Brady on the first series of the first game of the season, then lose a handful of other key starters on both sides of the ball, and still have a chance to make the playoffs.
Or this?
The Chargers once were 4-8 and all but eliminated, yet have a chance to win their division when they host the Broncos on Sunday night.
Or this?
The Dolphins not only go from 1-15 a year ago to having a shot at winning their division, but their starting quarterback, Chad Pennington, who was dumped by the Jets, could end up sending his replacement, Brett Favre, into retirement, and Jets coach Eric Mangini to the unemployment line.
And what about this?
The Ravens rebound from a 5-11 record with a rookie head coach, John Harbaugh, and a rookie starting quarterback, Joe Flacco, and could find themselves in the playoffs, too.
As if there weren't enough amazing storylines in the AFC this year, the playoff picture offers even more. There are three remaining spots and six teams in the hunt to get them.
The Titans (13-2) own the No. 1 seed in the conference and thus, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout. The Steelers (11-4) locked up the No. 2 seed and a bye as well. The Colts (11-4) hold the No. 5 seed as a wild-card team.
Behind them is a wild race to the finish in the final week of the regular season and four teams are in control of their own destiny.
In the AFC West, it's a showdown between San Diego (7-8) and Denver (8-7) at Qualcomm Stadium, with the winner nailing down the No. 4 seed and the loser getting eliminated.
"This is a game where we can erase a lot of things that happened this year," Chargers safety Clinton Hart told reporters this week.
Like those two teams, Baltimore (10-5) has to win Sunday to reach the postseason. The Ravens, second in the AFC North behind Pittsburgh, are at home against the reeling Jaguars and can also get in with a Patriots loss at Buffalo.
"We've felt like we had a good team all year and we've gone out and proved that for the most part," Flacco told reporters.
So have the Dolphins (9-6), who brought in Bill Parcells to run the front office and overhaul the franchise. He started by hiring Tony Sparano as his head coach and then signed Pennington, who has brought some stability at the quarterback position.
Miami can win the AFC East outright if it beats the Jets (9-6) on Sunday at the Meadowlands. The Dolphins also can win the division with a tie or a Patriots loss or tie, or at least they can clinch a playoff berth with a tie and a Ravens loss."
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