Playoff Projections (cont.)

AFC

Jay Cutler and the Broncos have their sights set on earning the No. 3 seed in the AFC. David Bergman/SI

Tennessee Titans (12-1)
If The Playoffs Started Today: In; No. 1 seed.
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): at Houston (L); vs. Pittsburgh (W); at Indianapolis (L)
Final Projected Record; Playoff Seeding: 13-3; No. 1 seed.
Extra Point: The intrigue with the AFC South champion Titans is homefield advantage, which they can clinch Sunday with a win and a Steelers loss. Anything less and it will bring extra meaning to a Week 16 showdown at home against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)
If The Playoffs Started Today: In; No. 2 seed.
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): at Baltimore (W); at Tennessee (L); vs. Cleveland (W)
Final Projected Record: 12-4; No. 2 seed.
Extra Point: The Steelers will clinch the AFC North and guarantee themselves at least one playoff game at home with a win over the Ravens on Sunday.

Denver Broncos (8-5)
If The Playoffs Started Today: In; No. 3 seed (win tiebreaker with N.Y. Jets on head-to-head).
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): at Carolina (L); vs. Buffalo (W); at San Diego (W)
Final Projected Record: 10-6; No. 4 seed.
Extra Point: A perfect finish could give the inconsistent Broncos the No. 3 seed, important for a team not interested in facing what will likely be a red-hot Colts team in round one.

New York Jets (8-5)
If The Playoffs Started Today: In; No. 4 seed (win tiebreaker with New England and Miami on three-way, head-to-head).
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. Buffalo (W); at Seattle (W); vs. Miami (W)
Final Projected Record: 11-5; No. 3 seed.
Extra Point: The road trip to Seattle scares us, but if the Jets take care of business there, they will host the Dolphins at the Meadowlands for all the marbles.

Indianapolis Colts (9-4)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 5 seed (wins tiebreaker with Baltimore on head-to-head).
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. Detroit (W), at Jacksonville (W), vs. Tennessee (W)
Final Projected Record: 12-4; No. 5 seed.
Extra Point: We give the Colts a win in Week 17 against the resting Titans, in a you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours payback for last season's playoff-clinching finale for Tennessee.

Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 6
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. Pittsburgh (L); at Dallas (L); vs. Jacksonville (W)
Final Projected Record: 10-6; No. 6 seed (win tiebreaker with New England on conference record).
Extra Point: If the Ravens can't win either of their next two brutal games, the goal should be to get through them healthy so they have enough left in the tank to clinch a playoff spot at home in Week 17.

New England Patriots (8-5)
If The Playoffs Started Today: Out.
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): at Oakland (W); vs. Arizona (L); at Buffalo (W)
Final Projected Record: 10-6; out.
Extra Point: Still very much alive, and with winnable road games sandwiched around a home game against a Pacific Time Zone team, the Patriots know the AFC East title is still possible.

Miami Dolphins (8-5)
If The Playoffs Started Today: Out.
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. San Francisco (W), at Kansas City (W), at NY Jets (L)
Final Projected Record: 10-6; out.
Extra Point: If the Dolphins win their next two, which they should, they will enter Week 17 with control of their playoff destiny. Pretty remarkable for a one-win team from one season ago.