AFC Playoff Picture: Who's In, Who's out and Tiebreak Scenarios

The AFC is going to enter Week 17 with only two divisions and four of six playoff spots locked up—leaving five teams in contention for two playoff spots.

It is going to be a gloriously wild closing week to the last week of the NFL's 2011 regular season.

Here is how the AFC playoff picture looks after Week 16.

AFC North Division Race

Baltimore Ravens 11-4

Pittsburgh Steelers 11-4

The Ravens hold the tiebreaker on the Steelers. If they beat the Bengals in Cincinnati next week, and/or the Steelers lose their game at Cleveland, they win the division.

AFC South Division Winner

Houston Texans 10-5

AFC East Division Winner

New England Patriots 12-3

AFC West Division Race

Denver Broncos 8-7

Oakland Raiders 8-7

The Broncos hold the tiebreaker on the Raiders. They must either beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Denver and/or the Raiders lose when they host the Chargers.

AFC Wild Card No. 1

The second place team in the AFC North will be the No. 1 wild card team.

AFC Wild Card No. 2 and Week 17 Opponent

Cincinnati Bengals 9-6 vs. Ravens

New York Jets 8-7 at Dolphins

Oakland Raiders 8-7 vs. Chargers

Tennessee Titans 8-7 at Texans

How the Bengals Get In

The easy one is that the the Bengals are in if they beat the Ravens.

If they lose, they need the Jets and Raiders to lose, or:

They need the Raiders to win the AFC West and the Jets to lose to Miami.

How the Raiders Get In

They can win the AFC West by beating San Diego and the Broncos losing to the Chiefs.

To win the wild card they need to win, the Bengals lose and:

• The Jets, Titans and Raiders win, or
• A Titans loss
• A Jets win
• The only way the Raiders do not get the wild card if they win and the Bengals lose is if the Titans win and the Jets lose to Miami.

How the Jets Get In

The Jets need to win, the Bengals to lose and:

• The Raiders and Titans lose, or
• The Raiders win the West, and the Titans lose to the Texans

How the Titans Get In

The Titans need to win, the Bengals lose and:

• The Raiders lose
• The Raiders win the West
• Only the Raiders win

What's Going to Happen

Tim Tebow has clearly run out of miracles and the Denver defense is looking battered and exhausted. This much was evident as they got thumped 40-14 to the Bills.

This will find the Broncos getting knocked out of the playoffs by the QB they cut. Kyle Orton and the Chiefs are going to spoil the Broncos postseason hopes when they beat Denver and the Raiders beat the Chargers to win the division.

This will open the door for the Titans to make the playoffs as they beat a Texans team that has nothing to gain in Week 17.