AFC Playoff Breakdown: All the Seeds and Who Is Going to Miami

With a chip on their shoulder the size of the UPMC building, the Steelers are preparing for their final push to the playoffs. As Mike Tomlin stated, "We will unleash Hell here in December."

Put to the side everything that has happened to this point in the season, because at this point, none of it matters—AT ALL!

The Steelers sit at 6-5, but in control of their own destiny. Pittsburgh's shot at winning the AFC North is bleak at best, but If they can win their next five games, they will be in the playoffs.

The playoff picture for the AFC is as follows.

Denver Broncos: 7-4

Remaining games: @ Kansas City, @ Indianapolis, Oakland, @ Philadelphia, and Kansas City

The Broncos will lose at least two of these games, likely against the Colts and Eagles. That will leave them at 10-6. Pittsburgh holds the tiebreaker over the Broncos, so if they finish with the same record, Pittsburgh will finish ahead of them.

Baltimore Ravens: 6-5

Remaining games: @ Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago, @ Pittsburgh, @ Oakland

The Ravens have two games that will determine their playoff chances—Green Bay and Pittsburgh. Both games are on the road, and they will have a hard time making it out with two wins.  If Baltimore wins one of those games and takes care of of the teams they should beat, they make the six seed. However if Baltimore manages to win at Green Bay and at Pittsburgh, they will claim the five seed. Baltimore also holds the tiebreaker over the Broncos.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 6-5

Remaining games: Oakland, @ Cleveland, Green Bay, Baltimore, @ Miami

Like the Ravens, the Steelers have two tough games left. If Pittsburgh loses to Green Bay, and beats the Ravens, they would be the six seed; if they win them both, they will be the five seed.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-5

Remaining games: Houston, Miami, Indianapolis, @ New England, @ Cleveland

Jacksonville has the hardest remaining schedule of all the teams left fighting for the final two playoff spots. With games against New England and Indianapolis, they will have to win the other games to even have a chance. Miami and Houston are both trying to stay respectable, but if they lose one of those, their playoff chances are over.

My Prediction

Pittsburgh finishes the season on a five-game winning streak. Their two toughest games will both be in Pittsburgh, where the hometown crowd will make it like a playoff atmosphere. Baltimore beat the Steelers in overtime without their two best players (Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu), and they should both be back by the time these two games are played.

Baltimore will win each of their remaining games except their matchup away at Pittsburgh.  At the end of the season the fight for the final two playoff spots should look like this:

Pittsburgh, 11-5

Baltimore, 10-6

Denver, 10-6

Jacksonville, 9-7

This puts Pittsburgh as the five seed, and by virtue of the tiebreaker, Baltimore gets the six seed.

Playoff Matchups

The Indianapolis Colts, with a three-game lead over the Bengals and Patriots, will lock down the top seed within three weeks.

Even though the Bengals currently have a one-game lead over the Patriots for the two seed, the Bengals still have to play the Vikings and Chargers, who are both battling for playoff position. New England has an easier schedule and should win out.

The Patriots get the two seed.

The three and four seeds are going to be determined by the head to head game to be played in San Diego against the Bengals. San Diego still plays at Dallas and at Tennessee, so I think it is fair to say they will split those two games, leaving the Bengals and Chargers with basically the same record, other than their head to head match up.

San Diego gets the three seed and the Bengals get the four seed.

Wild Card Weekend

Steelers @ Bengals

After being swept this year by the Bengals, the Steelers are going to have to go to Cincinnati to play the Bengals for a third time. This will also be the second time the Bengals have made the playoffs this decade, and both games will be against the Steelers.

With the injury bug behind them, Pittsburgh will beat the Bengals, 31-20.

Ravens @ Chargers

Baltimore will then travel to San Diego to play the Chargers. Terrell Suggs will return healthy, and the Ravens defense will be as potent as it was before. With the offense coming back around, the Ravens shock the Chargers 27-24.

Divisional Round

Steelers @ Patriots

New England has smashed their weaker opponents and had a hard time against the better ones. Playoff football is what these two teams live for, and they are two of the best in the postseason this decade, having won five of the eight Super Bowls since 2000.

New England's defense was torched by the Saints because they are young, inexperienced, and have no real leaders on the team. In a high-scoring battle, the Steelers win 33-30.

Baltimore @ Indianapolis

There are some teams that just do not play well against others, and Peyton Manning and the Colts always have a hard time with the Ravens. The Ravens' blitz comes from everywhere, and it always brings problems to the Colts.

The Ravens will shock the previously unbeaten Colts, and the corks will pop in Miami as the AFC half of the undefeated teams falls, 17-13.

AFC Championship Game

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

The first time in NFL history that a team that did not win its division will host the AFC Championship game. For the second straight year, the Ravens and Steelers will battle for the AFC Championship.

In another knock down, drag out battle, the Steelers will just have too much for the Ravens in Pittsburgh, as the Steelers win 27-24 to return to the Super Bowl.