NFL Playoff Picture: Which AFC Contenders Will Fall Short in Week 17?

Since there are five teams competing for two playoffs spots in the AFC, there are bound to be three teams that finish the season on a sour note. Those squads will have nobody to blame but themselves, as every team, including the three below, has suffered a few losses they'd like to have back.

Cincinnati Bengals

It's been an interesting season for the Bengals. Even though they currently control their own destiny in the playoff race, it's mostly because of a soft schedule and non-extraordinary play over the course of 15 games. There's no problem with taking advantage of inferior opponents, though.

They face an uphill battle against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Baltimore won the previous meeting of division rivals and is fighting for a first-round bye. A Cincinnati loss, which is the most likely scenario, would cause them to need help from other teams to clinch a berth.

None of the five hopefuls are playing each other, so there won't be any automatic eliminations in the AFC. So, if the Bengals can't put together their best performance of the season to upset the Ravens, they'll suffer heartbreak.

Tennessee Titans

Losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts and the aforementioned Bengals will be sources of disappointment should the Titans fall short of the postseason. It's games like those that teams need to win if they fancy themselves as contenders.

An underwhelming season from Chris Johnson, who still needs 14 yards to reach 1,000 for the season, is one of the major reason the Titans have hovered around .500 all year. They need him to be a game-changing presence, not just a volume runner, to be successful.

Sunday's road game vs. the division champion Houston Texans won't be as easy as fans are probably hoping. The Texans have been out of sorts over the last few weeks and will want to keep forcing the issue until they find a rhythm, so Tennessee won't reach their ultimate goal.

New York Jets

Just when it appeared the Jets were set to make their annual December charge into the playoffs, they dropped back-to-back games at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. Tough games to be sure, but we've come to expect more from the team's vaunted defense.

The consecutive losses have left their playoff dreams in rough shape. Among wild card chasing teams, the Jets need the most help to get in. That isn't even considering a tricky road test against an improving Miami Dolphins club.

Assuming they miss the postseason like I expect them to, it's going to be an interesting offseason for the Jets. Decisions have to be made about Mark Sanchez's ability to lead the team to the promised land and how they can return the defense to elite form. The New York media will only add to the fire.