The real season for the contenders starts in Week 15. With four games remaining, the top playoff seeds in the AFC — the Patriots, Titans and Chiefs — have faced different challenges to get to the same 9-4 record.
New England started off slowly but are the league’s hottest team, having won seven straight after a 2-4 start. The Chiefs, similarly, found much more success as the season has worn on, winning six straight after a 3-4 start. The Titans, presumed to be finished after losing MVP candidate Derrick Henry to a foot injury, have held firm in his absence, and can clinch the AFC South with a win over the Steelers Sunday and a Patriots win over the Colts Saturday.
Here are the rest of the seeds in the AFC entering Week 15.