Nevermore? (AFC Week 17)

We are now down to the final two weeks of the NFL regular season. It's gut check time, folks! Week 17 was the final week until an 18th week became a permanent staple in 2021, but even so, it's still highly important. It can be a last chance for teams trying to get what they want, whether it's the #1 seed, a division title, or just getting into the dance. Also, Week 17 means the end in Fantasy Football, because it's championship time. I love the penultimate week, especially since 2010, when they made the final week all division games and they were scheduled right after the penultimate week's SNF game ended. The penultimate week set the stage for the final week, and it dictates what games go where, and what matchup will serve as the 272nd and final game of the season.

But all of that drama is next week. The subject is this week's drama, and there's a lot of it. The American Football Conference has five of its seven playoff spots clinched, but there's still a lot to be decided. Let's take a look:

Denver Broncos (12-3)

It's been good for Denver sports so far. Not only are the Colorado Avalanche dominating, but the Denver Broncos are showing out. Their big winning streak came to an end against Jacksonville, but they are still looking to get everything this week. First, the division. A win and a Chargers loss or tie, or a tie and a Chargers loss, and the AFC West is theirs. However, a win, a Chargers loss or tie, a Patriots loss, a Bills loss or tie, and a Jaguars loss or tie, and the AFC will go through Mile High. The Broncos will be in Kansas City on Christmas Day, playing against what's left of the Chiefs.

New England Patriots (12-3)

The New England Patriots reboot made their way to the playoffs with their win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. They enter Week 17 at 12-3; tied with the Broncos, but Denver has the common games tiebreaker over New England. They'll need to win out and get help elsewhere to make sure the AFC goes through Foxboro, but they need to complete the next step, which is winning the AFC East. A win and a Bills loss or tie, or a tie and a Bills loss, and the AFC East is all theirs. The Patriots will go on the road on Sunday to face their favorite punching bag: the Jets.

Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)

This is clearly the best season the Jaguars have had in a while. I knew the Jags would be good, but I didn't think they'd have double-digit wins this year, especially since the AFC South has been "meh" for about four years now. The Jags have proven that they are the real deal this year; hell, they actually have a chance at the #1 seed! I don't see them getting that, and it's nothing against them. They will get the division, though. A win and a Texans loss or tie, or a tie and a Texans loss, and the Jags will take the South. The Jags will be on the road on Sunday against Indy.

Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)

The Chargers officially became playoff bound on Monday when the Colts lost a day after LA's big win in Dallas. Now, the Chargers can't clinch anything else this week, but they still have a shot at winning the AFC West. The Chargers host the Texans on Saturday. If they win that game, then that guarantees that the final week's matchup between the Chargers and Broncos will be for the AFC West crown. Though if that game ends up for the division, I can see that being one of the Saturday games for the final week, as it's not exactly a do-or-die situation.

Buffalo Bills (11-4)

Similar to the Chargers and Jaguars, the Buffalo Bills also got in due to Indy's loss on Monday, and they still have a chance to keep their division title streak alive. The Bills host the Eagles on Sunday's lone 4:25PM game, and a win will keep their division title hopes alive. The Bills/Pats season series is over, and next week, both teams will end the regular season against the lower half of the AFC East. Bills will host the Jets, and the Pats will host Miami. Overall, Bills need to win out and the Pats to lose one of their final two to win the division.

Those are the teams who clinched playoff spots in the AFC entering this week. As for the rest:

AFC North

This division is over. It can be decided as early as Saturday. The Steelers picked up a huge win in Detroit on Sunday, and that was followed by the Ravens losing on Sunday Night Football. Pittsburgh leads the division by two with two weeks left, and they fully control their own destiny. A win or tie gets it done, and they are in Cleveland on Sunday. The Steelers can also win the division if the Ravens lose or tie, and the Ravens will be in Lambeau on Saturday on this year's Peacock Exclusive game. The Ravens need a miracle. They need to win and have Pittsburgh lose in order for their rematch from Week 14 to be for the division. If Ravens/Steelers is needed for the division, there's a good chance it may be the overall season finale. Oh, I forgot. A loss or tie will eliminate the Ravens, because they can't get a Wild Card spot. So in addition to Mahomes and Burrow, Lamar could be out. Good God, this set up is literally handing the AFC Championship to Josh Allen. Watch him fuck it up.

AFC Wild Card (#7 Seed)

And then we have the Houston Texans and the other team behind the line, the Indianapolis Colts. Two teams going in opposite directions. The Texans were 3-5 after eight games, while the Colts were 7-1 and leading the conference. Since then, Houston's won seven straight. Colts? Lost six of seven. Indy's latest loss not only filled three playoff spots in the conference, it also allowed Houston the pleasure of controlling their own destiny. All the Texans have to do is beat or tie the Chargers on Saturday, and they're in; eliminating the Colts before they even take the field. The Colts need to go for their current QB's former team, the Chargers, on Saturday, but even then, they have to beat the Jags after that. If that happens, then we get Colts @ Texans in a winner take all pseudo-playoff game in Week 18. Winner advances, losing team is done. If this happens, it'll be the second time in three seasons that Houston and Indy will face each other in a do-or-die contest. The game in the 2023 season was in Indy. This meeting is in Houston.

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The AFC has some very interesting storylines entering Week 17. I do hope that something is left for Week 18, but it should be very interesting to see what develops!