Reviews and Previews – Chiefs win ugly

Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (5) greets Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) after the game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Week 14 AFC wild card Race

Around the rest of the AFC things shuffled at the top but pretty much stayed the same for the wild card. The New England Patriots took back the top spot in the AFC with the Denver loss and Cincinnati placed their hopes in jeopardy with an ill advised tackle by Andy Dalton.

The New York Jets kept the 6th seed in the AFC with an absolutely dominating win over the Tennessee Titans. The Titans looked bad in all phases of the game. The Jets are smart enough and disciplined enough without Rex Ryan to take advantage of mistakes like not covering Brandon Marshall. The Jets also gave Marcus Mariota nothing to work with by hurrying him on nearly every play. Even when Mariota took a one step drop with a slant route the Jets’ defensive line got their hands up and knocked it down. The Jets look good but they also get New England and an ever talented Buffalo team in the last three games.

The Steelers did what the Steelers do with a healthy Big Ben: win. Not only did they win but they were able to win with their defensive plays. The Steelers picked off Dalton once and his replacement twice. Roethlisberger had a fair day with 282 yards but he had no touchdown passes. Normally, to hold the Steelers to that kind of a passing day should translate to a win but the defense stepped up when the offense did not perform like it usually does. This is why 90% of football fans would vote the Steelers as the most dangerous team come January.

It is really a three team race now for the wildcard as Buffalo dropped another game and Oakland would need a lot of help to get in. The AFC South has become a three team race with the Jaguars sneaking their way in after dropping 51 on the falling Colts. Don’t be surprised if the Jaguars end up the winner there as they currently have the best quarterback in the division. (Yeah, I said it)

AFC Wild Card Standings

Kansas City (8-5)

New York Jets (8-5)

Pittsburgh (8-5)

Oakland (6-7)

Buffalo (6-7)

Houston (6-7)

Next: Looking at Week 15