Seven and Seven make the AFC wild in the next two weeks

If anything the NFL is proving that the last two weeks will be very interesting in the AFC.
This week Tennessee, Huston and Pittsburgh won games, and New York, Jacksonville, and Miami lost leaving a seven and seven field of opportunity.
The Ravens and Broncos need to win the next two weeks making the record 10 wins and 6 losses, but if for some reason either team losses one game the field is wide open for a team with nine wins will represent the AFC in the post season.

The AFC playoff race looks like this:

1. Indianapolis Colts (14-0, clinched No. 1 seed): They finish against the Jets at home and at Buffalo, teams that could see plenty of Curtis Painter instead of Peyton Manning. A perfect regular season would be nice, but expect Indy to play things conservatively -- and still find a way to finish unbeaten.

2. San Diego Chargers (11-3, West winners): The Chargers' Christmas Day game against Tennessee on NFL Network could be a thriller with the Titans hanging on to their slim -- but remarkable -- playoff lives and San Diego trying to maintain its momentum going into the playoffs. The Chargers have a stranglehold on the No. 2 seed, so while they don't catch a break in the season finale against a dangerous Redskins team, that game might not have any meaning by the time it rolls around.

3. New England Patriots (9-5, first in East): The Patriots' escape in Buffalo and losses by the Jets and Dolphins pretty much greased the skids for a division title. New England still isn't playing like a team that scares anyone, but the team's history shouldn't make opponents feel comfortable either. The Patriots close against the Jaguars and Texans, 7-7 teams in desperation mode.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (9-5, first in North): It seems like we've been saying for weeks that their lead in the North is secure. Probably still is because of their 6-0 mark in the division, but the Ravens lay in the weeds a game back (actually two having lost twice to Cincinnati). Following the death of teammate Chris Henry, the Bengals have to snap out of their funk and rally with heavy hearts to write a happy ending to their best season in years. The Chiefs and Jets will make them work, especially if New York is still alive in Week 17.

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-6, second in North): The Ravens might be the team that emerges from this glut of wild-card hopefuls but it will have to win in Pittsburgh next week, which won't be easy. Neither will the finale at Oakland; the Raiders have been successfully playing the role of spoiler for weeks. Should the Ravens fight their way in, they could be that "hot" team no one wants to play in the playoffs, like they were last year when they entered as a wild card.

6. Denver Broncos (8-6, second in West): The Broncos are hoping their schizophrenic season -- in which they won six straight, lost four, won two and now lost two -- takes yet another turn. They've lost six of their last eight and have no momentum heading into the next two weeks that will decide everything. You have to think they have last season's debacle still on their minds, at least the holdovers from a franchise that underwent an offseason facelift. Big game at Philadelphia before a breather against Kansas City in finale. A split might not be good enough.

Jacksonville Jaguars (7-7, tied for second in South): The good news for the Jaguars is that they sit in pretty good position with the best conference mark (6-4) among the 7-7 hopefuls. The bad news: Their final two games are on the road. Jacksonville has only won twice away from home and both remaining games will be played in un-Florida-like climates (New England and Cleveland).

Miami Dolphins (7-7, tied for second in East): No team has a more intriguing road, although the final two games are in South Florida. Houston and Pittsburgh, respectively, will either push Miami out of the playoffs or will be cast out of the 7-7 mix by a Dolphins team that has re-invented itself at quarterback and tailback. Conference mark: 5-5.

New York Jets (7-7, tied for second in East): New York's offense remains a huge issue, but the Jets could catch a two-tiered break. They face the Colts next week and the Bengals in the finale. The Colts have nothing to play for (except a perfect season) and the Bengals might be locked into their playoff spot by the finale. Conference mark: 5-5.

Steelers (7-7, third in North): Well, well, well. The defending champs might want to play ball after all. Beating Baltimore at home is a must, but so is holding off Miami in Florida. Pittsburgh could have safety Troy Polamalu back to provide inspiration and on-field production. Their 4-6 conference mark isn't going to help in tiebreakers.

Titans (7-7, tied for second in South): It is amazing Tennessee has worked itself to this point, and it might not be done. San Diego isn't going to be too keen on having to travel to Nashville for a Christmas night game, and the Titans end the season at Seattle. Problem for Tennessee is a 4-7 conference record -- worst among the playoff hopefuls and a likely death knell of a tie-breaker.

Houston Texans (7-7, tied for second in South): If there was ever a time for Matt Schaub to post a defining snapshot, this is it. The Texans face Miami and New England. Victories over both would still leave the team with six conference losses, which ultimately could be the downfall of both Houston and coach Gary Kubiak.