With two games remaining in the regular season, two AFC playoff spots remain available.
The Indianapolis ' Colts loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 22 clinched spots for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Chargers .
The final spots will be the AFC North winner ( Pittsburgh or Buffalo) and a second AFC South team ( Houston or Indianapolis).
| Record |
Week 16 |
Week 16 |
| 12-3 |
Lost 34-20 to Jacksonville |
at Kansas City (Thursday, Dec. 25) |
The Broncos saw their 11-game winning streak (and 12-game home streak dating back to last season) ended against the Jaguars on Dec. 21. What to make of this Broncos team after seeing them in-person? The pass rush (five more sacks and 63 for the year) is obviously formidable, but if they get blocked up, are they good enough at linebacker and safety to stop good passing teams? The answer was no against the Jaguars. If the Broncos win their last two (at Kansas City and home to the Chargers), they get the top seed.
A great comeback win for the Patriots, which trailed Baltimore by 11 points in the fourth quarter, allowing them to stay a game ahead of Buffalo in the AFC East. Quarterback Drake Maye was 31-of-44 passing for 380 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and veteran receiver Stefon Diggs caught nine passes for 138 yards. The Patriots finish at the Jets and home to Miami .
RYAN O'HALLORAN: Walker Little's day across Jaguars O-line vital to win
| Record |
Week 16 |
Week 17 |
| 11-4 |
at Indianapolis (Sunday, Dec. 28) |
The Jaguars have won six consecutive games and five by double-digits after traveling to Denver to beat the Broncos. They lead Houston by a game in the AFC South (guaranteed first-round home playoff game) so the Jaguars still have work left to do. Trevor Lawrence has 12 touchdowns and no interceptions in the last four games and the defense has 28 takeaways (second-most in the NFL) this season. By their Dec. 28 kickoff at Indianapolis, the Jaguars will know the result of the Houston-Chargers game on Dec. 27 and a Chargers win would give the Jaguars a shot at clinching the division.
Pittsburgh can wrap up the AFC North with a win at Cleveland this week or over Baltimore in Week 18. The Steelers have won three consecutive games, including a 29-24 win at Detroit last week. The Steelers rank 27th in yards per game and 28th in yards allowed per game. If they're the No. 4 seed, they should be a first-round home underdog to the Chargers or Buffalo.
| Record |
Week 16 |
Week 17 |
|---|---|---|
| 11-4 |
Beat Dallas 34-17 |
vs. Houston (Saturday, Dec. 27) |
The Chargers are 7-1 in their last eight games (the only loss being to the Jaguars). They have the tiebreak over Buffalo by a half-game due to AFC record (8-2). If the Chargers win out, they win the AFC West. The Chargers rank sixth in rushing offense.
| Record |
Week 16 |
Week 17 |
| 11-4 |
Beat Cleveland 23-20 |
vs. Philadelphia (Sunday, Dec. 28) |
Buffalo will be in the postseason for the seventh consecutive year and it still has a chance at winning a sixth straight AFC East title. The Bills ' offense ranks fourth in yards, first in rushing, fourth on third down, seventh in the red zone and fourth in points per game. They will be a road favorite in the wild card round.
| Record |
Week 16 |
Week 17 |
| 10-5 |
Beat Las Vegas 23-21 |
at L.A. Chargers (Saturday, Dec. 27) |
Houston struggled against Las Vegas, but still ran its winning streak to seven consecutive games. The Texans defense continues to roll; they rank first, fourth against the rush and pass and first in fewest points allowed. In four game back from his concussion, quarterback C.J. Stroud has five touchdowns and one interception.
8. Indianapolis (8-7):The Colts have lost five consecutive games and are 1-6 in their last seven as the injury to quarterback Daniel Jones has predictably doomed Indianapolis' chances. After Week 10, they were 8-2 and atop the AFC. The Colts are eliminated with one more loss or one more Houston win; they could be playing for only pride against Jacksonville if the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday, Dec. 27.
9. Baltimore (7-8):The Ravens need to get help to reach the playoffs after blowing an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead to New England . And now they get a primetime Dec. 27 trip to Green Bay . If they upset the Packers , the Ravens then need Cleveland to upset Pittsburgh to set up an AFC North title game in Week 18.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars in NFL playoffs, now looking to clinch AFC South
