AFC Playoff Teams After One Month!

One month into the NFL season there are several surprises. We will take a look at the current teams production and attempt to determine which 6 teams will be fighting for a chance to win the AFC title! This is not a power ranking based on week to week stats or performance, rather this is a look at how teams have grown and the chances they will make it to the post season.

New York Jets

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 19: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets in action against the New England Patriots during their game on September 19, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The New York Jets are the team to beat in the AFC after one month. The only loss was a one point heart breaker to the Baltimore Ravens. The loss came without key players Darrelle Revis and Santonio Holmes. If Mark Sanchez can continue to play at a high level there are very few teams that can even compete with the New York Jets. Sanchez has currently thrown 8 TDs and 0 Ints. Last season Sanchez went 12 TDs with 20 Ints. It also helps that L.T has found the fountain of youth and is playing out of his mind.

Based on what we have seen out of the New York Jets I fully expect them to be the Number 1 Seed come playoff time!

Baltimore Ravens

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 13: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a play against the New York Jets during the Jets home opener at the New Meadowlands Stadium on September 13, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaa

The Baltimore Ravens are playing defense like it was the year 2000. Of course there is no Ed Reed right now! The Ravens defense is showing up week after week and putting their team in position to win games despite the fall off of pro bowl running back Ray Rice. The addition of Anquain Boldin has given quarterback Joe Flacco a legitimate number 1 for the first time in his career. The eventual return of Ed Reed could make the Ravens the number 1 team in the AFC especially if Ray Rice finds himself as I'm sure most fans expect him to do.

Based on what we have seen so far the Baltimore Raves are the 2nd best team in the AFC!

Houston Texans

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans rushes against the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter at Reliant Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots will likely finish this season with a better record than the Houston Texans. However the division winners are guaranteed home field advantage and therefore the Houston Texans come in as the third playoff team in the AFC. The Indianapolis Colts currently rank 29th in rush defense, 29th in rush offense, and 15th in pass defense. The passing offense is number 2 in the league and that should surprise no one. However with the Texans already taking one off the Colts and the unlikely loss to Jacksonville the Colts are looking more and more like a team on the way out. Arian Foster is playing like a top 3 running back and the 3-1 start came with a sub par Andre Johnson due to injury. With Brian Cushing set to return the defense is going to get a boost. 

Based on what we have seen so far the Houston Texans are headed to their first ever post season as the 3rd seed.

Kansas City Chiefs

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DENVER - JANUARY 03: Jamaal Charles #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on from the sidelines against the Denver Broncos during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on January 3, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Let the curse of L.T begin. Tomlinson is playing out of his mind in New York and San Diego have become the biggest "YEA BUT" team in the NFL. With losses at division rival Kansas City and lowly Seattle the San Diego Chargers are running themselves out of the playoffs. While I do not believe Kansas City will not have the 4th best record in the AFC, actually I believe they will have the worst record of the 6 playoff teams. I do believe they will win their division and punch their ticket into the post season. Prediction: Norv Turner gets fired, Todd Haley gets a raise and the Kansas City Chiefs become the Cinderalla of this years playoffs.

Based on what we have seen this year the Kansas City Chiefs will win their division and get the 4th seed in the AFC.

Pittsburgh Steelers

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PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 02: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the preseason game on September 2, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers should put Jessica Alba under center with some flags around her waist. I mean not only will the Steelers still be fighting and probably winning but the audience will have one more reason to want to watch the game. The work the Steelers defense has done is simple incredible. Polamalu is easily the single most important defender since...... well it has been a very long time since a defender had as much of an impact as Troy. Rashard Mendenhall is playing as if he was back at Illinois eating Badgers and doing Buckeyes. And oh by the way the 2 time Superbowl winning quarterback hasn't played one down yet. In a time when passing is suppose to be king in the NFL the top three teams in the AFC boast the top three defenses in the league!

Based on what we have seen the Steelers are the 3rd best team in the AFC thus far but will be the 5th seed in the AFC playoffs due to divisonal winners being in front of them.

New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with Randy Moss #81 after Moss made a touchdown catch against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Ge

To Moss or not to Moss that is the question. Anyone foolish enough to question the "Hoody" obviously doesn't watch football. The New England Patriots are on the cusp of missing the playoffs for the second time with Tom Brady under center for an entire season. With the departure of Randy Moss the Patriots future is in serious doubt. However the destruction of the Miami Dolphins is a huge win in both the division and conference. The most important month of Tom Brady's regular season career is about to unfold. If the Patriots can go undefeated in October or even 3-1 they will be in prime position to get the final wild card spot.

Based on what we have seen so far the New England Patriots will finish the season with the final wild card spot, the 6th seed in the AFC playoffs.