2024 NFL playoff picture: Ranking AFC wild-card contenders, from Ravens to Colts

We have now reached December football. Thanksgiving is upon us, and after we take in a holiday tripleheader and a Black Friday game this week, we’ll get our first taste of December football on Sunday, marking the final full month of the regular season. Of course, this ramps up what continues to be a mad dash to the postseason, with teams jockeying for position within the playoff picture. 

In the AFC, the divisions are largely secure. Without even factoring head-to-head tiebreakers, the Bills, Chiefs, and Texans all have at least a two-game lead over the second-place team in their respective division. Meanwhile, the Steelers currently sit atop the AFC North but have the Ravens nipping at their heels after a Monday night win over the Chargers that thrust them to 8-4 and up to the No. 5 seed in the conference. 

So, outside of the jockeying between Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the AFC North, that puts a major emphasis on the three wild-card spots that are currently up for grabs. Below, we’ll highlight the teams that are in the realistic running to claim one of those three playoff positions as we enter into Week 13. Before we do, let’s highlight where the playoff picture stands at the moment. 

SeedingTeam (record)

No. 1

Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)

No. 2

Buffalo Bills (9-2)

No. 3

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)

No. 4

Houston Texans (7-5)

No. 5

Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

No. 6

Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

No. 7Denver Broncos (7-5)

Alright, let’s get to the rankings! 

1. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

Last week, we had the Ravens as the No. 2 team on this list, but following the head-to-head win over the Chargers on Monday night, we’ll give them their due. Baltimore has now boosted itself up to the top wild-card spot in the conference and is very much alive in the AFC North race. The combination of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry is proving to be one of the best one-two punches that the league has to offer offensively, while the…


Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-playoff-picture-ranking-afc-wild-card-contenders-from-ravens-to-colts/

Author : Tyler Sullivan

Publish date : 2024-11-26 20:57:00

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