The NFC conference might have the best team in the NFL in the unbeaten New Orleans Saints, but the AFC has quite a few teams in contention for the AFC Wildcard playoff spots right now as the regular season draws to a close with only a few games remaining.
 
AFC Wildcard Contenders
 
Denver Broncos
 
At the beginning of the NFL season the Denver Broncos looked like one of the best teams in the league under new head coach Josh McDaniels; well, at least for the first six weeks of the season. After the Broncos lost their first game of the season to Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens in week eight, Denver slipped into a slump that lasted over a span of four games in which they lost four straight games to the Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins and their division rival San Diego Chargers.
 
It wasn’t until Thanksgiving Day that the Denver Broncos were able to turn it around and get back on track as they beat the New York Giants convincingly 26-6.  Their dominance continued in the following week against the Kansas City Chiefs where they scored a season high 44 points.
 
Even though the Broncos seemed to have gotten back to their winning ways, the undefeated Indianapolis Colts and MVP candidate Peyton Manning were just too much for Denver last weekend and the Broncos might have to settle for getting into the playoffs through the AFC Wildcard.
 
Baltimore Ravens
 
The Baltimore Ravens came into this season with high hopes as they were coming off a successful season after finally finding that elusive franchise quarterback they have been looking for in quarterback Joe Flacco.  Along with their new found success on offense with Joe Flacco behind center, the Ravens defense has played up to their potential once again and have made Baltimore one of the best teams in the league on both sides of the football.
 
The Ravens have a good a chance as ever to clinch another playoff berth this season, but they must win at least two of their last three games which I believe they are very capable of
doing.
 
Jacksonville Jaguars
 
This season the Jaguars have been somewhat of the sleeper team in the AFC that has flown pretty much under the radar for the majority of the season.  One of the main reasons for no one really taking any notice of Jacksonville this season has been because they share the AFC South division with the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts and Vince Young’s exciting Tennessee Titans.
 
Despite flying under the radar, the Jacksonville Jaguars seem to be in prime position to clinch a playoff berth through the AFC Wildcard.
 
Miami Dolphins
 
The Wildcat offense strikes again and this season it just might get the Miami Dolphins back into the playoffs with an AFC Wildcard playoff berth.  The Dolphins have been ravaged by injuries this season, but still have a legitimate chance of getting in the playoffs.
 
New York Jets
 
The Jets started out the season looking as good as any team in the league behind rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez out of USC and new head coach Rex Ryan more defensive approach, but New York has struggled as the season progresses and the health of Sanchez has been in serious question as of late.  The other team in New York is good, but not good enough to make it into the playoffs this season in my opinion.
 
On the Bubble
 
Pittsburgh Steelers
 
The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers have hopes of a repeat and they seemed more than capable to do it after beating the Tennessee Titans with a thrilling last minute victory in the first week of the season.
 
Unfortunately, the win over the Titans was one of the few bright points of the season for Pittsburgh as they have gone from Super Bowl contender to possibly missing the playoffs entirely.
 
Houston Texans
 
In the near future the Houston Texans will be one of the best teams in the NFL, mark my words, but they are still going through some growing pains and will have to sit out this postseason. Quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson are a deadly combination on the football field, but the combination will not be enough in my opinion to get them in the postseason.
 
Tennessee Titans
 
The Tennessee Titans are the most exciting team in the league right now as they have arguably the best running game in the NFL with Chris Johnson coming out of the backfield and Vince Young always being a legitimate threat to go the distance behind center.  Even though the Titans have made an impressive turn around at midseason, Tennessee will be watching the playoffs from home this year as they have just gotten too far behind in the AFC Wildcard race, but you never know as there was no way I thought they would even be in contention at this point.
 
Who will win the AFC Wildcard playoff berths?
 
Prediction: Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins

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