With only three weeks remaining, the AFC playoff picture is shaping up to be an intriguing one. The Broncos lead the division and have an opportunity to clinch this weekend, but the Chargers and Chiefs both remain in the hunt.
Here’s a look at how these teams match up this week with playoff implications on the line.
Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals, Sunday 4:05p.m. EST
With the AFC playoff picture immense with competition, the Chiefs are starting to fall behind. There are currently six teams in this conference with a 7-5 record, Chiefs included, seeking a playoff spot. KC has lost two in a row after their 26-19 loss to the first place Broncos and are now in third place, two games out of first and a game behind the Chargers. This week, they are on the road against a first place Cardinals team that is struggling. The Chiefs need a big game from Jamaal Charles this week to get the offense going.
Drew Stanton has not been playing good football the past few weeks and the Cards have lost two in a row. They lost to the Atlanta Falcons 29-18 last week. Good news for them is they are still in first with a 9-3 record, but could still lose the division. The Cards have suffered on the injury front, and running back Andre Ellington won’t play this week due to a hip injury.
This game is important for both teams as they look to rebound from a few losses and gain some momentum down the stretch. The Chiefs really need to take this one to stay in the playoff hunt and gain some leverage entering Week 15.
Final Prediction
Chiefs 24 Cardinals 20
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos, Sunday 4:05p.m EST
The Bills are 7-5 and two games out of the AFC East. They have won two in a row after a big 26-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Buffalo is still very much in the running for the playoffs after their third quarter rally last week, but will have to travel to Mile High and face Peyton Manning and the first place Broncos.
Denver is 9-3 and enter Week 14 looking to win their third consecutive. The Broncos beat the Chiefs last week and created some separation in the West, but they still have the Chargers on their heels. Led by Manning, the Broncos are one of the best teams in the NFL. They have an explosive offense capable of scoring quickly and efficiently, which is a huge advantage for them. This week they face a Bills team in the playoff hunt, and while the Broncos may already be a shoo in for the playoffs, they need to keep winning to take the division and seek the number one seed in the AFC for the second year in a row.
This is an important game for the Bills. They are in a tough division and with so many teams posting seven wins thus far, they need to keep pace in order to keep playoff hopes alive.
Final Prediction
Bills 17 Broncos 27
San Francisco 49ers at Oakland Raiders, Sunday, 4:25p.m EST
The Raiders followed up their big Week 12 win vs the Kansas City Chiefs by being shutout 52-0 on the road to the St. Louis Rams. Derek Carr had the worst game of his rookie season and was pulled early for Matt Schaub due to the score. Schaub was even worse, fumbling the ball and throwing a pick-six; something he is known for. Oakland struggled in every aspect and didn’t look prepared for the Rams. They fell to 1-11 on the season, but will face their bay area rivals in the San Francisco 49ers in Oakland.
The Niners enter this week in a must win situation. They lost to the Seattle Seahawks 19-3 on Thanksgiving, falling to 7-5 on the year. With playoff hopes in mind, this is a game the Niners must win. Their offense has struggled, but they have one of the best defenses in the league ranked fourth overall.
This matchup is always a high intensity situation. Both Bay Area teams battling it out with the Raiders with an opportunity to play spoiler at home against their local rival. With a strong Niner defense, the Raiders will have to force turnovers and execute in the red zone. Latavius Murray is returning for the silver and black and could create some spark on the Raiders offense to get them going early on. This has the making for a close game, but it all depends on which Raiders team shows up. They’ve been so up and down this year sometimes being in close games with better teams in the league, but have also played extremely poorly as they did last week.
Final Prediction
Niners 20 Raiders 13
New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers, Sunday 8:30p.m. EST
Last week, the Patriots faced the Green Bay Packers in a potential Super Bowl preview, and neither team disappointed. It was an intriguing matchup that resulted in a close game, but a loss for the Pats as the Packers took this one 26-20. Aaron Rodgers outplayed Tom Brady in this high-profile matchup snapping New England’s winning streak. The Patriots are now 9-3 and lead the AFC East by two games. This week, they face a Chargers team that is playing well after winning three in a row.
San Diego has had many ups and downs this year, but have seemed to find their rhythm again after beating the Ravens in a very close 34-33 game. With 38 seconds left to play, Philip Rivers threw a touchdown pass to Eddie Royal to give the Chargers the lead and the win. The Chargers are now 8-4 and in second place in the West. Following their dramatic comeback win, they enter this matchup with some momentum, but the Patriots are always a tough team to play.
This a potential playoff preview between two of the better teams in the AFC. The Chargers are still looking to not only make the playoffs, but overtake the division and in order to do that, they need to keep winning and keep pace with the Broncos. Brady and the Pats are near unbeatable at home, but away they have struggled in the past. This should be another good matchup between two good quarterbacks.
Final Prediction
Patriots 28 Chargers 21