Despite the NFL expanding its playoff bracket to 14 teams, the season for a 10-game AFC squad will end on Sunday. The historical depth exhibited at this year’s AFC may well exclude a team of 11 playoff victories just for the third time since the 1970 merger.
Numbers 4-7 of the conference have not yet been determined; Titans, Dolphins, Ravens, Browns and Colts sit at 10-5. Only the 1985 Broncos and the 2008 Patriots – who were left out of the AFC bracket of five and six teams, respectively – lost the post-merger playoffs 11-5. But since none of the participants in the 10-win quintet played each other on Sunday, the Colts could make the list.
With the Steelers indicating that they will rest Ben Roethlisberger, the Browns seem to have a great chance of overcoming the longest NFL playoff drought (18 years). Although they lost 38-6 at the team meeting in October in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have not played as well since then and have lost important defenders Devin Bush and Bud Dupree. The Browns won the Mason RudolphSteelers 21-7 in Cleveland last year, although the outcome of the game was obviously unclear. Football Outsiders gives the Browns a 44% chance of staying in sixth position and a 20% chance of ranking seventh.
Sean McDermott has not indicated whether he will rest the beginners against the Dolphins. Doing so would certainly undermine the Colts’ chances of qualifying, with Indianapolis needing at least one of the other four 10-win teams to lose. The accounts can only fall to third place with a defeat and a victory for the Steelers, and given Mike Tomlindecision to rest Roethlisberger, it wouldn’t be surprising to see McDermott give in Josh Allen a rest or an abbreviated task on Sunday.
The Dolphins made it to the playoffs once in the previous 11 seasons and stayed on the bench Your Tagovailoa twice since you named it holder. Tagovailoa remains Miami’s QB1, however. Football Outsiders gives Miami a 28% chance of staying in fifth place and a 29% chance of winning seventh place in this year’s expanded bracket. While the Bengals eliminated the Ravens from the 2017 playoffs in Week 17, this version is less talented and is below its initial quarterback (Joe Burrow) and top running back (Joe Mixon) Of the five AFCers with 10 wins, the Baltimore road may be the least scary.
The Colts saw their Philip Rivers the signature produces mixed results, and it is not certain that the sides will meet in 2021. Although Rivers helped the Colts to return to the precipice of the playoffs, the 39-year-old defender is in 18th place in the QBR. Although this figure is north of Rivers and Jacoby BrissettWith the 2019 placements, the Colts also suffered losses to the Jaguars – their Sunday opponent – and lost by at least two points to the Browns, Ravens and Titans.
Tennessee also lost to Indianapolis in an explosion and brings a less reliable (29th overall) defense to Week 17. Houston also almost made a comeback in Week 6 in this fight, losing in overtime. However, Texans do not have some important players – including Will Fuller and Bradley Roby – going for the rematch. Football Outsiders sees a loss of the Titans in Houston and a victory for the Colts as the most likely way for Indy to return to the playoffs, with a 33% scenario.
So, which of this quintet will end their season sooner? Vote in the last PFR poll (link to users of the application) and rate your opinion on the standoff of Week 17 in the comments section.
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