There’s nothing the Los Angeles Chargers can do to cease the Ravens from profitable the AFC North. With a house win Sunday over the Pittsburgh Steelers and a street win subsequent weekend towards the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens would take the division crown and sure the No. 3 seed within the AFC playoffs.
But if the Ravens can’t get a house sport within the wild-card spherical, their finest recourse is perhaps a street sport towards the fourth-seeded AFC South champion — doubtless the Jacksonville Jaguars. And that’s the place the Chargers, winners of three straight and 4 of their previous 5 video games, do are available.
With victories in Week 16, the Ravens (10-5) and Chargers (9-6) wrapped up spots within the convention’s seven-team playoff discipline. But in accordance with the New York Times’ playoff projections, it’s the Chargers, regardless of their inferior document, who’ve a barely higher shot on the No. 5 seed. Why? Their remaining schedule and convention document.
The Ravens are discipline aim favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into Sunday’s rematch in Baltimore and can doubtless be underdogs towards Cincinnati in Week 18. The Chargers, in the meantime, are landing favorites over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17 and finish the season towards the reeling Denver Broncos, who simply fired coach Nathaniel Hackett.
If the Ravens go 1-1, with a loss to the Bengals, and the Chargers go 2-0, they’d each end 11-6. But the Chargers would get the AFC’s No. 5 seed due to the convention document tiebreaker. The Chargers can be 8-4 in AFC video games; the Ravens can be 7-5 and presumably staring down a second straight journey to Cincinnati.
Quite a bit can change over the following two weeks, particularly in Baltimore, the place quarterback Lamar Jackson’s knee harm has saved him from working towards. Here’s how the AFC’s playoff image appears to be like heading into Week 17, with the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills (12-3) and AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs (12-3) sitting within the high two spots.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4)
Playoff odds (in accordance with FiveThirtyEight): 100% (clinched)
Conference document: 7-3
AFC North document: 2-3
Schedule: vs. Bills (12-3), vs. Ravens (10-5)
The Bengals shut out the common season with the hardest stretch of any workforce within the AFC’s playoff combine, however the rewards may very well be wealthy. With a win over Buffalo, Cincinnati would leap-frog the Bills for the No. 2 seed. With a win over the Ravens, the Bengals would clinch their second straight AFC North title (in the event that they haven’t already). Lose these subsequent two, although, and Cincinnati might fall to the No. 6 seed.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8)
Playoff odds: 76%
Conference document: 6-4
AFC South document: 2-2
Schedule: at Texans (2-12-1), vs. Titans (7-8)
The Jaguars can’t afford to mess issues up. They’re four-point street favorites over a scrappy however restricted Houston workforce, they usually’ll doubtless be favored at house towards a banged-up Tennessee workforce they’ve already crushed as soon as. Even if the Texans win Sunday, Jacksonville would want solely to beat the Titans — doubtless taking part in with out injured quarterback Ryan Tannehill — to win the AFC South and safe the AFC’s No. 4 seed.
5. Ravens (10-5)
Playoff odds: 100% (clinched)
Conference document: 6-4
AFC North document: 3-1
Schedule: vs. Steelers (7-8), at Bengals (11-4)
The Ravens’ win Saturday over the Atlanta Falcons eradicated any doubt about their place within the postseason. Now they’ve to determine the way to proceed — not solely with sport planning, however harm administration as properly. The Ravens can climb as excessive because the No. 3 seed and fall as little as the No. 7 seed. It’d assist to have defensive lineman Calais Campbell, cornerback Marcus Peters and Jackson out there. But it’d additionally assist to have them wholesome for the playoffs.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
Playoff odds: 100% (clinched)
Conference document: 7-4
AFC West document: 2-3
Schedule: vs. Rams (5-10), at Broncos (4-11)
The Chargers are headed to the playoffs for the primary time with quarterback Justin Herbert, and extra assist may very well be on the best way for a workforce rounding into type. Pro Bowl exterior linebacker Joey Bosa, who suffered a groin harm in Week 3, is reportedly anticipated to return to follow this week. Pro Bowl left deal with Rashawn Slater, who tore his biceps in Week 3, might additionally return from injured reserve in time for the playoffs. The Chargers have their flaws, however they’ll doubtless head into the postseason on a roll.
7. Miami Dolphins (8-7)
Playoff odds: 62%
Conference document: 6-4
AFC East document: 2-2
Schedule: at Patriots (7-8), vs. Jets (7-8)
The Dolphins, losers of 4 straight, have the least demanding playoff path of the three AFC East groups within the wild-card combine. If they beat the Patriots this weekend, and the Jets lose to the Seattle Seahawks, Miami can be in. If the Dolphins and Jets each win, the groups’ Week 18 sport would develop into a winner-take-all matchup. If Miami loses in New England and beats the Jets, it’d want the Patriots to lose to the Bills in Week 18 to get in. But if a concussion once more sidelines quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins would possibly already be hopeless.
8. New England Patriots (7-8)
Playoff odds: 19%
Conference document: 5-5
AFC East document: 2-2
Schedule: vs. Dolphins (8-7), at Bills (12-3)
If the Patriots lose to Miami, their playoff desires can be over. If they beat Miami, they may lose to Buffalo and nonetheless sneak into the postseason — supplied they get numerous unlikely assist. New England’s finest hope: Win its closing two video games towards divisional foes it misplaced to earlier this season.
9. New York Jets (7-8)
Playoff odds: 15%
Conference document: 5-6
AFC East document: 2-3
Schedule: at Seahawks (7-8), at Dolphins (8-7)
If the Jets win their subsequent two video games and the Patriots lose not less than yet another, they’d be within the playoffs for the primary time since 2010. With medical doctors lastly clearing quarterback Mike White to start out towards Seattle, the Jets not less than have a greater shot than they might’ve with Zach Wilson.
10. Tennessee Titans (7-8)
Playoff odds: 26%
Conference document: 5-6
AFC South document: 3-2
Schedule: vs. Cowboys (11-4), at Jaguars (7-8)
The free-falling Titans’ playoff hopes might hinge on Tannehill’s ankle, which he injured early in a Week 15 loss to the Chargers. If he recovers rapidly from surgical procedure, Tannehill must be an improve in Week 18 over rookie Malik Willis, who went 14-for-23 for 99 yards in a 19-14 loss Saturday to Houston, Tennessee’s fifth straight defeat. If Tannehill’s unavailable, the Titans would want Derrick Henry to run wild over Jacksonville to defend their AFC South championship.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com