AFC PLAYOFF RACE HEATS UP

 

Entering Week 13 of the 2015 NFL season, 21 teams are either in or within one game of a playoff spot, including 10 in the AFC.

The Oakland Raiders, who will face opponents with a combined 31-24 (.564) record in the final five games, have the toughest remaining schedule among AFC clubs within one game of a playoff berth.

“It’s all business,” says Pittsburgh wide receiver MARTAVIS BRYANT. “The time is now. We know we need these last five games. Everyone has to bring it. I know we control what we do and we want to win out.”

The remaining strength of schedule for the 10 AFC teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot:

AFC EAST

 

 

TEAM	NEW ENGLAND (10-1)	NEW YORK JETS (6-5)	BUFFALO (5-6)
OPP. RECORD	22-33 (.400)	25-30 (.455)	24-31 (.436)
WEEK 13	Philadelphia (4-7)	at New York Giants (5-6)	Houston (6-5)
WEEK 14	at Houston (6-5)	Tennessee (2-9)	at Philadelphia (4-7)
WEEK 15	Tennessee (2-9)	at Dallas (3-8)	at Washington (5-6)
WEEK 16	at New York Jets (6-5)	New England (10-1)	Dallas (3-8)
WEEK 17	at Miami (4-7)	at Buffalo (5-6)	New York Jets (6-5)

AFC NORTH

 

 

TEAM	CINCINNATI (9-2)	PITTSBURGH (6-5)
OPP. RECORD	24-31 (.436)	30-25 (.545)
WEEK 13	at Cleveland (2-9)	Indianapolis (6-5)
WEEK 14	Pittsburgh (6-5)	at Cincinnati (9-2)
WEEK 15	at San Francisco (3-8)	Denver (9-2)
WEEK 16	at Denver (9-2)	at Baltimore (4-7)
WEEK 17	Baltimore (4-7)	at Cleveland (2-9)

 

 

AFC SOUTH

 

 

TEAM	INDIANAPOLIS (6-5)	HOUSTON (6-5)
OPP. RECORD	22-33 (.400)	27-28 (.491)
WEEK 13	at Pittsburgh (6-5)	at Buffalo (5-6)
WEEK 14	at Jacksonville (4-7)	New England (10-1)
WEEK 15	Houston (6-5)	at Indianapolis (6-5)
WEEK 16	at Miami (4-7)	at Tennessee (2-9)
WEEK 17	Tennessee (2-9)	Jacksonville (4-7)

 

 

AFC WEST

TEAM	DENVER (9-2)	KANSAS CITY (6-5)	OAKLAND (5-6)
OPP. RECORD	26-29 (.473)	19-36 (.345)	31-24 (.564)
WEEK 13	at San Diego (3-8)	at Oakland (5-6)	Kansas City (6-5)
WEEK 14	Oakland (5-6)	San Diego (3-8)	at Denver (9-2)
WEEK 15	at Pittsburgh (6-5)	at Baltimore (4-7)	Green Bay (7-4)
WEEK 16	Cincinnati (9-2)	Cleveland (2-9)	San Diego (3-8)
WEEK 17	San Diego (3-8)	Oakland (5-6)	at Kansas City (6-5

 

NFC NOTES

 

PLAYOFF RACES IN FULL SWING AS NFC CLUBS VIE FOR POSITION

 

As the NFL enters Week 13, there are 21 teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot, including 11 in the NFC.

The Atlanta Falcons have the toughest remaining schedule among those NFC clubs, facing opponents with a combined 35-20 (.636) mark.

“From here on in, the only statistic that matters is winning games,” says head coach BRUCE ARIANSof the 9-2 Arizona Cardinals. “Whatever we have to do as a football team to win a game, that’s all that matters.”

The remaining strength of schedule for the 11 NFC teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot:

 

NFC EAST

 

TEAM	NEW YORK GIANTS (5-6)	WASHINGTON (5-6)	PHILADELPHIA (4-7)
OPP. RECORD	33-22 (.600)	20-35 (.363)	34-21 (.618)
WEEK 13	New York Jets (6-5)	Dallas (3-8)	at New England (10-1)
WEEK 14	at Miami (4-7)	at Chicago (5-6)	Buffalo (5-6)
WEEK 15	Carolina (11-0)	Buffalo (5-6)	Arizona (9-2)
WEEK 16	at Minnesota (8-3)	at Philadelphia (4-7)	Washington (5-6)
WEEK 17	Philadelphia (4-7)	at Dallas (3-8)	at New York Giants (5-6)

NFC NORTH

 

TEAM	MINNESOTA (8-3)	GREEN BAY (7-4)	CHICAGO (5-6)
OPP. RECORD	32-23 (.582)	29-26 (.527)	25-30 (.455)
WEEK 13	Seattle (6-5)	at Detroit (4-7)	San Francisco (3-8)
WEEK 14	at Arizona (9-2)	Dallas (3-8)	Washington (5-6)
WEEK 15	Chicago (5-6)	at Oakland (5-6)	at Minnesota (8-3)
WEEK 16	New York Giants (5-6)	at Arizona (9-2)	at Tampa Bay (5-6)
WEEK 17	at Green Bay (7-4)	Minnesota (8-3)	Detroit (4-7)

NFC SOUTH

 

TEAM	CAROLINA (11-0)	ATLANTA (6-5)	TAMPA BAY (5-6)
OPP. RECORD	26-29 (.473)	35-20 (.636)	30-25 (.545)
WEEK 13	at New Orleans (4-7)	at Tampa Bay (5-6)	Atlanta (6-5)
WEEK 14	Atlanta (6-5)	at Carolina (11-0)	New Orleans (4-7)
WEEK 15	at New York Giants (5-6)	at Jacksonville (4-7)	at St. Louis (4-7)
WEEK 16	at Atlanta (6-5)	Carolina (11-0)	Chicago (5-6)
WEEK 17	Tampa Bay (5-6)	New Orleans (4-7)	at Carolina (11-0)

NFC WEST

TEAM	ARIZONA (9-2)	SEATTLE (6-5)
OPP. RECORD	29-26 (.527)	27-28 (.491)
WEEK 13	at St. Louis (4-7)	at Minnesota (8-3)
WEEK 14	Minnesota (8-3)	at Baltimore (4-7)
WEEK 15	at Philadelphia (4-7)	Cleveland (2-9)
WEEK 16	Green Bay (7-4)	St. Louis (4-7)
WEEK 17	Seattle (6-5)	at Arizona (9-2)