Because the season heads into the ultimate half, the haves and have-nots are clear. However how will the season play out?
Forward of Week 11, Yardbarker writers predict the ultimate document and establish crucial sport remaining for all AFC groups.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS (8-2) | Predicted closing document: 13-4 | Buffalo has rattled off 5 consecutive wins for the primary time since 1993 largely due to QB Josh Allen’s MVP-caliber season. Nonetheless, the Payments have not crushed a group with a successful document, so this upcoming four-game stretch during which they will face Kansas Metropolis, San Francisco and Detroit will probably be essential in figuring out whether or not they’re a reputable Tremendous Bowl contender. | Most vital remaining sport: vs. Kansas Metropolis (Nov. 17)
MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-6) | Predicted closing document: (8-9 | 2024 is a misplaced season for Miami, however the offense has seemingly returned to type now that QB Tua Tagovailoa has healed from the concussion he suffered in Week 2. Over the previous three video games, the Dolphins are averaging the ninth-most factors amongst groups (25.7), and in the event that they keep that stage of effectivity, they’ve the potential to play spoiler within the playoff race. | Most vital remaining sport: vs. San Francisco (Dec. 22)
NEW YORK JETS (3-7) | Predicted closing document: 7-10 | The panicked commerce for WR Davante Adams has panned out simply as poorly because the determined determination to fireside HC Robert Saleh, with the Jets persevering with to hit stunning new lows every week. Nonetheless, contemplating New York solely has one sport remaining towards a group with a successful document, it ought to stack sufficient wins to fall outdoors the highest 10 within the 2025 NFL Draft, giving Jets followers one final heartache. | Most vital remaining sport: vs. Indianapolis (Nov. 17)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-7) | Predicted closing document: 5-12 | Rookie Drake Maye has proven flashes of being a franchise quarterback by way of his first 5 begins, which has helped New England win two of its previous three video games. Even so, Maye has already dedicated seven turnovers, and if these struggles persist, the Patriots in all probability will not win many extra video games, particularly since they’ve the third-most tough remaining schedule, per Tankathon. | Most vital remaining sport: at Miami (Nov. 24) — Colum Dell
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS (5-5) | Predicted closing document: 9-8 | Denver has misplaced two straight, but it surely has the ninth-easiest remaining schedule, per ESPN’s Football Power Index. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix is steadily bettering, finishing 69 p.c of his passes for 5 TDs and one interception over his past three games. |
Most vital remaining sport: vs. Kansas Metropolis (Jan. 5)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-0) | Predicted closing document: 16-1) | Don’t count on the Chiefs to hitch the 1972 Miami Dolphins and the 2007 New England Patriots as the one groups to complete the common season undefeated within the Tremendous Bowl period. Their schedule nonetheless options difficult matchups towards the Texans (6-4), Steelers (7-2) and Payments (8-2), who on Sunday might snap Kansas Metropolis’s 15-game win streak relationship to final season (together with the playoffs). | Most vital remaining sport: at Buffalo (Nov. 17)
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-7) | Predicted closing document: 3-14 | Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce hopes changing not too long ago fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy with Scott Turner will spark a turnaround, but it surely in all probability received’t. With Gardner Minshew remaining the beginning QB, Vegas’ 25th-ranked scoring offense (18.7) will preserve sputtering and the Raiders will preserve dropping. | Most vital remaining sport: vs. Denver (Nov. 24)
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (6-3) | Predicted closing document: 11-6 | The Chargers are again within the playoff hunt after successful three of their previous 4, however they’re getting into a tough portion of their schedule. They host the Ravens (7-3) in Week 12 and have highway video games towards the Chiefs (9-0) and Falcons (6-4) in Weeks 13 and 14, so it wouldn’t be shocking in the event that they lose no less than considered one of these video games. | Most vital remaining sport: at Kansas Metropolis (Dec. 8) — Clark Dalton
AFC North
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-2) | Predicted closing document: 11-6 | The Steelers are clinging to a slight lead within the AFC North, however they haven’t performed a division opponent. The one non-division groups left on Pittsburgh’s schedule are the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (9-0) and the Philadelphia Eagles (7-2), so Mike Tomlin’s squad might battle the remainder of the best way. | Most vital remaining sport: at Baltimore (Dec. 21)
BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-3) | Predicted closing document: 12-5 | The Ravens have performed a brutal schedule that doesn’t get a lot simpler down the stretch. Baltimore nonetheless should play two video games towards the Steelers, and its three non-division video games are towards the Eagles (7-2), Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) and Houston Texans (6-4). | Most vital remaining sport: vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 17)
CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-6) | Predicted closing document: 9-8 | The Bengals are a lot better than their 4-6 document suggests, however their solely wins have come towards groups with dropping information. Pretty much as good as QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase have been, they haven’t made up for a protection that ranks 26th in the NFL in points allowed per game (26.2). | Most vital remaining sport: vs. Pittsburgh (Dec. 1)
CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-7) | Predicted closing document: 4-13 | Jameis Winston injected wanted life into the locker room by main the Browns to an upset win towards the Ravens in his first begin, however he got here again to earth with three interceptions in a blowout loss to the Chargers the next week. Winston’s unstable model of play might nonetheless propel Cleveland to 2 or three extra wins down the stretch. | Most vital remaining sport: vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 21) — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS (6-4) | Predicted closing document: 11-6 | The Texans have hit a tough patch, dropping three of their previous 4 video games, and the offense is sputtering, principally due to accidents. However, the return of WR Nico Collins, who leads Houston in receiving yards (567) regardless of being sidelined since Week 5, ought to assist the group get on observe over the subsequent 4 video games, that are all against sub-.500 teams. | Most vital remaining sport: vs. Baltimore (Dec. 25)
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-6) | Predicted closing document: 7-10 | After dropping their previous two video games with Joe Flacco at QB, the Colts are swallowing their delight and turning again to second-year QB Anthony Richardson for the rest of the season. Richardson struggled mightily earlier than his benching, however 5 of Indianapolis’ subsequent seven opponents have a .300 successful share or worse, suggesting it has a sensible likelihood to complete the season robust. | Most vital remaining sport: vs. Detroit (Nov. 24)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-8) | Predicted closing document: 4-13 | Jacksonville, the worst-rated group by ESPN’s Football Power Index (-8.1), is on the quick observe to securing the No. 1 decide within the NFL Draft for the third time in 5 years. The Jaguars’ solely wins this season have come towards the Flacco-led Colts and the rebuilding Patriots, and with backup Mac Jones now beginning QB, they’d be fortunate to double their present win whole. | Most vital remaining sport: at Las Vegas (Dec. 22)
TENNESSEE TITANS (2-7) | Predicted closing document: 5-12 | Will Levis is not the long-term reply at QB, but when he continues to play clear soccer as he did in final week’s highway loss to the Chargers, the Titans ought to string collectively late-season wins. Tennessee’s protection has the expertise to remain aggressive in each contest, because the unit ranks first in yards per game allowed (273.56). | Most vital remaining sport: at Houston (Nov. 24) — Colum Dell