AFC Team Rankings - Week 11

[Corvus Corax]

INTRODUCTION:

The top six rankings are CURRENT projected playoff seeds. Below the rankings, followed by comments, you will find my assessment of what needs to happen for the Baltimore Ravens to clinch a playoff berth (despite their current projection as a division winner) .

1. Houston Texans (8-1)
2. New England Patriots (6-3)
3. Denver Broncos (6-3)
4. Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)
6. Indianapolis Irsays (6-3)
-----------------------------------------------------
7. San Diego Chargers (4-5)
8. Cincinnati Bengals (4-5)
9. Buffalo Bills (4-6)
10. Miami Dolphins (4-6)
11. New York Jets (3-6)
12. Cleveland Browns (2-7)
13. Tennessee Titans (4-6)
14. Oakland Raiders (3-6)
15. Kansas City Chiefs (1-8)
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simplest formula for Ravens to capture a playoff seed:

1. Win ONE of the two games against Pittsburgh (road, home).
2. At home, beat Denver OR New York Giants.
3. On the road, beat San Diego OR Washington OR Cincinnati.

Following the formula will guarantee them finishing at least 10-6 which should be enough to make it in. The team's performance (players and coaches) against the Browns and Raiders have demonstrated that they are a much improved team over the one that faced the Texans. The big question is will they remain a legitimate contender when facing such contenders again. We will all soon find out. (By currently ranking them fourth, obviously I believe that they will.)

----------------------------------------------------
CC