TheFunPolice

I forgot the Chargers and Texans play too... That's what I meant above: lots of losses are coming for some of these teams in the near future and the AFC playoff picture will open up a bit

and Herbert just had surgery for a broken left hand today. Not his throwing hand, but still. I could see the Chargers and Colts fall out and the Chiefs and Texans go in. How wild would that be, given the Colts start? Forget playoffs, we are still very much in the division race! For some reason this season so many are prisoners of the moment. NE has BAL coming up, plus us. IF they lost tonight, then the AFC East race is officially on! Remember a couple years ago when the Titans (who stunk at the time) beat Miami to help us win the East? Crazy things happen every week. All we need is: 1. Win out 2. NE loses to NYG tonight (possible) 3. NE loses to BAL (BAL will be desperate so definitely possible) 4. We beat NE (see #1) None of that is crazy. NE could also lose a different game from either NYG or BAL. Just get them to 5 losses.

Heyward does this often now... I mentioned it elsewhere but I've been tortured by watching a number of Steelers games this season. They are terrible. NE and Indy literally gave them those games and they STILL almost lost those 2. But this behavior from Heyward has been going on all year, probably due to frustration because that defense gets bullied often and they think they're big and tough. Instead, they are old, tired, and past their primes and pride is messing with him I think. The dude gets bulldozed on a fairly consistent basis then gets up to get into someone's face because he is embarrassed I think. Not sure, but knowing you're a bowling pin just getting knocked over when you used to be a feared DL has to suck.

Garrett would be incredible. Imagine a player of that talent finally getting to play in games that matter...

It's going to be a great game, and I think we'll win it but it will be a nail biter. We're so up and down this year in terms of perception. Now the defense suddenly became great. I don't think people realize just how pathetic, pitiful, and wimpy the Steelers offense has been most of the season. They are abysmal. Their defense has also been bad all year. If a decent team throws up all over itself and turns the ball over 3-4 times they typically have a chance. If not they lose pretty handily. There is a lot of bad, sloppy football played around the league, which is how teams like Pittsburgh rack up some wins. But they are a pretender and even their own fans knew it before the game. Flacco put up 33 points on them. They are a joke. You can only beat who you play, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves. Records aside, the Bengals are by far a tougher opponent than the Steelers. It will be a good test and a fun game. BTW, Zach Taylor should be fired if they miss the playoffs. He has Burrow, Chase and Higgins and they keep missing the post season, mostly due to slow starts even with Burrow healthy.

Well, I mean it more as they are more threatening than the Steelers or Ravens as a division winner. They still have Zach Taylor at HC to overcome and a horrible defense, although their D is suddenly slightly less awful now that they have a reason to try with Burrow back. The main reason why is that they can score points. It's much easier to play a team like Pittsburgh whose cap is 14-17 points. If you score a couple TDs it's basically over. CIN has a QB and WR that can and will score points, so they can be a threat more so than the Steelers pathetic excuse for an offense or the Ravens with a hobbled Jackson and worn out Henry. If the Colts fall out KC is the only team with a real chance to take their spot. Someone will, mathematically. It won't be the AFC North runner up. KC has head to head over Baltimore, and the Steelers are a total joke and won't be there in the end. Beyond that... Maybe Houston, but we'll see. This week's SNF game is almost a playoff game.

using the ESPN playoff simulator I actually got them in at 10-7 with a loss to HOU this week. That would require the Chargers to fall back though. In that scenario: 1 DEN 13-4 2 NE 13-4 3 HOU 11-6 4 CIN 9-8 5 BUF 12-5 6 JAX 11-6 7 KC 10-7 KC would need DEN to defeat LA in week #18 in this scenario. DEN would be playing for the #1 seed.

It's certainly possible, but a 10-7 AFC will make it in. Happens every year when we say "this year an 11-6 team will miss!" then a 9-8 team slips in. Lots of losses are coming for the top AFC teams. It's just math, because they play each other. Broncos/Jaguars, Broncos/Chargers, Chargers/Texans, Chargers/Chiefs, Broncos/Chiefs, Jags/Colts twice, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some... I think the Chiefs get the Colts spot.

Agreed also. People forget that Tomlin + HOF QB equaled 2 SB berths and one win during the era of Manning and Brady. Plus Big Ben had some great success later in his career too. The current Steelers team is old, tired, overpaid, and just done. Watt is not the same guy this season as he has been, nor is Hayward. Their last couple OCs have been bad, but they also have an awful OL and barely any threats on offense to throw to or run the ball. A buddy of mine is a huge Steelers fan so I see a lot of their games and talk a lot of Steelers ball. They are not a good team. Their defense is so-so at best and their offense struggles to string together 7-8 play drives. As much as Steelers fans hate Tomlin, I think he coaches up a 6-11 team to 9-8 each season. That isn't a 11-6 roster.

this discussion is moot: McDermott has a lifetime contract here. Think Tomlin style job security. He's a great person and a good enough coach to win, so you might as well get behind him because he will be the coach for Allen's entire Bills career.

AFC Division winners do not impress me as true contenders: Denver, Indy/Jax/Hou, NE, BAL,PIT,CIN Out of that mix, the scariest possible division winner would be CIN, because they are like a video game team that can score at will when healthy. If their defense can force 2-3 punts they will be in every game with Burrow. But none of the other likely AFC division winners scares me at all. I still think it will be BUF/KC in the AFC Title Game in Highmark, as it should be.

Jauron was the perennial 7-9 HC here. If he had Josh Allen with those defenses is it hard to imagine he would have gone 10-6 or 11-5 those years instead? Would putting Allen on those teams instead of Losman or trent mean +3 or +4 wins? If so, you basically have McDermott. It would be tough to have a top 2-3 NFL QB and not do well in the regular season.

Steelers are a complete mess, which is why I had zero doubt we would win. Even diehard Steelers fans have no hope, no matter the record, of them doing anything of note. Now we have guys skipping film study, freelancing, going 50% out there... They are horrific on offense. I've watched several Steelers games this season, and it feels like their offense is never on the field. When they are, it's 2 yard run, then the inevitable incomplete pass to nowhere with a close up of Rodgers yelling at someone or no one. Then, there will be a beautiful, vintage Rodgers throw right on the money that bounces off the stone hands of the WR. Those are few and far between, though, because the Steelers never sustain drives. They are awful. I am happy we won of course, but the Steelers are a hopeless team. The fans booed Renegade and chanted "Fire Tomlin" all 4th quarter.

This is what the league wanted and it's really the first year it has worked out so well. December is going to be like Wild Card weekend every week, starting this Thursday night with Cowboys/Lions. Every weekend is going to be packed with games between teams with great records and all sorts of playoff implications. Almost anything could still happen. Those looking at the AFC and thinking it's over for teams like KC should remember that all those 3-4 loss teams are going to play each other, sometimes twice, still. So 9-3 or 8-4 teams will become 9-5 or 8-6 teams. Then the 7 seed becomes a race.

Bills could still get the AFC East crown. Lots of ball left to play. We're 8-4. That's a very good record. AFC South will cannibalize itself, so no #1 seed there. Broncos could run away a bit and be this year's #1 seed Titans team that was a quick 1 and done. If you're a Chiefs fan you want the Jaguars to sweep the Colts, getting them to 6 losses. Jags have the H2H over KC from earlier in the season but KC beat the Colts. Both conferences are stacked for similar reasons: lots of games still to come between the top teams, especially in the AFC. There are a lot of losses to go around for the top teams still so it looks more daunting than it really is. If KC goes 10-7 I give them a 50/50 chance, if they go 11-6 they are getting in.

all the NFC teams are trying to help the Bills out here, which is amazing to see!

Not sure Denver winning or losing means much to most wild card teams. They are so far ahead in that division. KC fans would want Denver to lose a couple so they can't rest starters against the Chargers in week 18. That could keep KC out: LA beating Denver's backups

Nice job by Washington of getting out of 3rd and 25

Absolutely brutal call Refs are actively screwing Washington

Next week's lineup of games is ridiculously good! Starts with this Thursday Lions vs Cowboys

What a catch!

Right now but things are going to shift significantly in the AFC over the next bunch of weeks. A 10-7 team will probably make it in as the 7 seed.

Proof that football is a mental game IMO

Colts are definitely going to slip I think... But there are a lot of AFC losses coming up, because these teams all play each other. It's going to be a crazy and fun end to the season! Colts and Chargers could both slip late and allow a bottom feeder like KC in

Steelers should trade him for something in that case.