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NFL playoff picture, Jaguars in AFC's No. 3, holding off Houston
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- NFL playoff picture, Jaguars in AFC's No. 3, holding off Houston
A look at the AFC playoff picture entering Week 15:
1. Denver Broncos
| Record |
Week 14 |
Week 15 |
|---|---|---|
| 11-2 |
Beat Las Vegas 24-17 |
Vs. Green Bay (Sunday, Dec. 14) |
The Broncos ' 10-game winning streak is their longest since 2012, the first year of the Peyton Manning Era. The defense has 55 sacks, most in the NFL through 13 games since New Orleans had 56 in 2000. Interesting statistic: Quarterback Bo Nix was 31-of-38 passing in the win over Las Vegas, but for only 212 yards; the longest completion was 15 yards.
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2. New England Patriots
| Record |
Week 14 |
Week 15 |
|---|---|---|
| 11-2 |
Bye |
Vs. Buffalo (Sunday, Dec. 14) |
The Patriots had the latest-scheduled bye of the season and will take a 10-game winning streak into this week's home showdown against the Buffalo Bills . Beating the Bills 23-20 in Week 5 sparked the Patriots' turnaround season. New England can clinch the AFC East with a win since it would be up three games with three to go and have a season sweep of the Bills.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
| Record |
Week 14 |
Week 15 |
|---|---|---|
| 9-4 |
Vs. N.Y. Jets (Sunday, Dec. 14) |
The Jaguars lead the AFC South by one game over Houston and Indianapolis , who are both 8-5, but headed in opposite directions (the Texans are surging and the Colts , well, aren't). A favorite of at least 11 points (11 1/2) for only the 11th time in franchise history, the Jaguars' top-ranked rush defense will face a test against the Jets' run game (seventh-best).
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More: More from O'Halloran: Ten thoughts from the Jaguars' win over Indianapolis
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
Well, sticking a fork in the Steelers' chances was premature. Pittsburgh went to Baltimore, built a 17-3 lead midway through the second quarter and never trailed. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was 3-of-3 passing for 121 yards on attempts of at least 20 "air" yards, including a 52-yard pass to DK Metcalf . The Steelers, though, were gashed by the Ravens for 217 rushing yards.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
| Record |
Week 14 |
Week 15 |
| 9-4 |
Beat Philadelphia 22-19 (OT) |
At Kansas City (Sunday, Dec. 14) |
The Chargers are 5-1 in their last six games (the loss being to the Jaguars) after getting five Cameron Dicker field goals and intercepting Jalen Hurts four times in Monday night's overtime win over Philadelphia. But their leaky pass rush ( Justin Herbert was sacked a career-high seven times by Philadelphia) and difficult schedule (at Kansas City, at Dallas , vs. Houston and at Denver) could still doom the Bolts.
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6. Buffalo Bills
| Record |
Week 14 |
Week 15 |
| 9-4 |
Beat Cincinnati 39-34 |
At New England (Sunday, Dec. 14) |
If the Bills lose at New England, their streak of five consecutive AFC East titles will end. The thing is, the Bills will probably be a road favorite in any wild-card game (including the Jaguars). The Bills had another double-digit fourth-quarter comeback against Cincinnati (down 28-18 with 8:44 left). Quarterback Josh Allen is making a strong case for a repeat MVP; he had his fifth game of at least 250 passing yards, three touchdown passes, 50 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. No other quarterback has more than three such games.
7. Houston Texans
| Record |
Week 14 |
Week 15 |
|---|---|---|
| 8-5 |
Beat Kansas City 20-10 |
Vs. Arizona (Sunday, Dec. 14) |
Nobody will want to play the Texans in the postseason. Houston made it five consecutive wins by putting another dent in Kansas City's chances. During their winning streak, the Texans have won by seven, three, four, four and 10 points. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a 19.8 passer rating (worst of career).
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In the hunt
8. Indianapolis (8-5):Quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) is out. Riley Leonard (knee) is iffy. Anthony Richardson (orbital bone) is on injured reserve. So what now? A workout with Phillip Rivers , who retired after the 2020 season! The Colts, who play at Seattle , are cooked.
9. Baltimore (6-7):If the Ravens don't make the playoffs, they can point to their current 3-5 home record as the main culprit. We thought they were on the upswing, but they have lost at home to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh since their five-game winning streak. They play at Cincinnati this week.
10. Kansas City (6-7):Mahomes has played in the AFC championship game in each year as a starter (2018-24). The Chiefs are now in danger of not even making the playoffs. They are 3-5 in the AFC entering this week's home game against the Chargers.
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11. Miami (6-7):Fire general manager, go on a winning streak. Since Chris Grier was canned, the Dolphins have won four consecutive games. The key? Defense. The Fins have allowed 13, 13, 17 and 10 points during their streak . They play at Pittsburgh on Monday night.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: NFL playoff picture, Jacksonville Jaguars still AFC's No. 3 seed
