NFL Playoff Picture: Breaking Down the Contenders for AFC Wild-Card Spots

First of all, I'm going to bet the 10-3 Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers will grab the first wild-card spot in the AFC.

Four more teams will compete for the second wild-card spot. Here's a quick look at them.

New York Jets (8-5)

The Jets easily knocked off Kansas City 37-10 for their eighth win Sunday, though they still have a couple tough matchups left on the schedule. 

New York travels to Philly next week before hosting the Giants and then going to Miami to end the season. All of those are winnable, but I see the inconsistent Jets losing one of them—possibly next week at Philadelphia.

That would put them at 10-6.

Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)

The Bengals lost a late heartbreaker today against T.J Yates and the Texans, 20-19, and that certainly hurts.

What doesn't hurt, however, is two games left with St. Louis and Arizona. After that the Bengals host a Ravens team that could very well be resting its starters.

I think the Bengals win out and get to 10-6. 

Oakland Raiders (7-6)

That means the Raiders have to win out, as well. It's certainly possible, but they have looked pretty putrid the last couple of weeks.

Oakland gets Detroit and San Diego at home while traveling to Kansas City in Week 16. I think the Raiders drop one of those home games and finish at 9-7. Not a bad season for the Raiders, but it will drop them short of the playoffs. 

Tennessee Titans (7-6)

The Titans lost Matt Hasselbeck, and even though I like Jake Locker, that's going to make things very tough.

Games with Indianapolis and Jacksonville help, but I don't think the Titans will beat the Texans in Houston in Week 17.

That leaves New York and Cincinnati both with 10 wins. The tiebreaker would depend on how other games play out, but if the expected teams win, the Jets would get the nod.

So, there you have it, Pittsburgh and New York are my projected AFC wild-card teams.