We didn’t learn much about the AFC playoff picture this week. The Ravens and Patriots seem like the cream of the crop in the AFC. Both those teams are poised to secure byes and the only thing in doubt is whether Baltimore or New England will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Texans are flawed and are in a battle with the Colts for the AFC South. The Chiefs should win the AFC West. The wild cards will be a battle between the loser of the Texans-Colts battle, the Buffalo Bills, the Oakland Raiders, and maybe the Steelers or the Browns. Yes, somehow the Browns are still alive, folks.

AFC East

New England Patriots 9-1

The Patriots have one concern: their offense. The New England defense can’t keep bailing out the other side of the football. That hasn’t been the case for a long time in New England. The good news for the reigning Super Bowl champion is that they only play one very good defense the rest of the schedule. The Cowboys should be a good defense but haven’t really shown it on the field. The Texans and Chiefs can be scored upon. There’s probably two losses left on the schedule, but 13 wins should be enough to get the top seed unless the Ravens continue to dominate opponents.

Remaining Schedule: Cowboys, @Texans, Chiefs, @Bengals, Bills, Dolphins

Buffalo Bills 7-3

The Bills need to beat the Broncos or their playoff hopes are in deep trouble. The four games after Week 12 are in tough situations where they play the Cowboys, Steelers, and Patriots away and have to try and stop the Ravenswhich doesn’t look possible right now. What looked like an easy path to the playoffs now looks a little scary.

Remaining Schedule: Broncos, @Cowboys, Ravens, @Steelers, @Patriots, Jets