"There has been a surprising balance of power shift in the AFC this season, leaving some defending division champions with plenty of work to do in order to reach the postseason. Last season, the four division winners from the AFC -- Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills -- were the last teams standing in the playoffs from the conference."
"The teams that are thriving in the AFC are the New England Patriots (9-2), who have found their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye; the Denver Broncos (9-2), who strike fear with a relentless pass rush; and the Indianapolis Colts (8-2), who continue to lean on the NFL's most productive running back in Jonathan Taylor. Kansas City, Baltimore and Houston are essentially in survival mode for the final seven weeks."
A surprising shift in AFC standings has left several defending division champions struggling to reach the postseason. Last season the four AFC division winners (Kansas City, Baltimore, Houston and Buffalo) were the conference's final playoff teams, but entering Week 12 none of them leads its division. The Chiefs, Ravens and Texans are 5-5 and currently outside playoff positions. The New England Patriots (9-2), Denver Broncos (9-2) and Indianapolis Colts (8-2) are leading the conference, aided by Drake Maye, a relentless Broncos pass rush and Jonathan Taylor. Only 9% of teams starting 5-5 through 10 games make the playoffs, heightening urgency.
Read at ESPN.com
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