Steelers' loss gives AFC East more juice
December, 10, 2009
12/10/09
11:34
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
The AFC East's faint wild-card pulse beats a little stronger.
The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have a shot to win the AFC East, but if they can't overtake the New England Patriots, then one of them might look back on Thursday night and thank the Cleveland Browns for clearing the wild-card path.
Former Jets head coach Eric Mangini's team, with a solid gameplan by defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (current Jets head coach Rex Ryan's twin brother), knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6.
That gives the Dolphins and Jets a little more wiggle room to maneuver their way up the AFC standings.
The Dolphins, Jets, Steelers and Baltimore Ravens went into Week 14 with 6-6 records, one game out of the AFC's last wild-card spot.
A few weeks ago, it didn't appear anybody but the Patriots had a shot to make the playoffs out of the AFC East, but significant movement can occur Sunday to further the cause.
The Dolphins will visit the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 7-5 and would be the second wild-card team if the season were to end today. The Jets are heavy favorites to beat the 1-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dolphins and Jets victories would create a 7-6 logjam with three games to play.
Here's a look at the current AFC standings:
1. Indianapolis Colts 12-0 (5-0, 8-0)
2. San Diego Chargers 9-3 (5-1, 7-3)
3. Cincinnati Bengals 9-3 (6-0, 6-3)
4. New England Patriots 7-5 (3-2, 5-4)
5. Denver Broncos 8-4 (3-1, 6-3)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars 7-5 (3-2, 6-2)
7. Baltimore Ravens 6-6 (3-2, 6-4)
8. Miami Dolphins 6-6 (4-2, 4-4)
9. New York Jets 6-6 (2-4, 5-5)
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-7 (1-4, 4-6)
11. Tennessee Titans 5-7 (2-4, 3-7)
12. Houston Texans 5-7 (1-5, 4-6)
The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have a shot to win the AFC East, but if they can't overtake the New England Patriots, then one of them might look back on Thursday night and thank the Cleveland Browns for clearing the wild-card path.
Former Jets head coach Eric Mangini's team, with a solid gameplan by defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (current Jets head coach Rex Ryan's twin brother), knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6.
That gives the Dolphins and Jets a little more wiggle room to maneuver their way up the AFC standings.
The Dolphins, Jets, Steelers and Baltimore Ravens went into Week 14 with 6-6 records, one game out of the AFC's last wild-card spot.
A few weeks ago, it didn't appear anybody but the Patriots had a shot to make the playoffs out of the AFC East, but significant movement can occur Sunday to further the cause.
The Dolphins will visit the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 7-5 and would be the second wild-card team if the season were to end today. The Jets are heavy favorites to beat the 1-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dolphins and Jets victories would create a 7-6 logjam with three games to play.
Here's a look at the current AFC standings:
1. Indianapolis Colts 12-0 (5-0, 8-0)
2. San Diego Chargers 9-3 (5-1, 7-3)
3. Cincinnati Bengals 9-3 (6-0, 6-3)
4. New England Patriots 7-5 (3-2, 5-4)
5. Denver Broncos 8-4 (3-1, 6-3)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars 7-5 (3-2, 6-2)
7. Baltimore Ravens 6-6 (3-2, 6-4)
8. Miami Dolphins 6-6 (4-2, 4-4)
9. New York Jets 6-6 (2-4, 5-5)
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-7 (1-4, 4-6)
11. Tennessee Titans 5-7 (2-4, 3-7)
12. Houston Texans 5-7 (1-5, 4-6)
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
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