Breaking down the AFC Wild Card race
By Joel Deering
Who still has a shot, part 2
- Baltimore Ravens (6-5)
Currently holding the sixth spot in the AFC Wild Card race, the Baltimore Ravens are an interesting team. As just discussed while talking about the Chargers’ schedule, the Ravens hold the league’s best defense. With a defense like that, the Ravens will make it difficult for the teams behind them to get into the playoffs.
While the defense can keep them in games, the Ravens’ offense is somewhat in question. It all starts at the QB position. Rookie QB Lamar Jackson has started the last two games, as Joe Flacco has been out with an injury. In the two games Jackson has started, he’s helped the Ravens earn a 2-0 record.
Although Jackson has helped the Ravens earn victories, it’ll be interesting to see how the Ravens handle the QB situation when Joe Flacco is fully healthy. While Lamar Jackson is lighting up the NFL with his rushing ability, he hasn’t looked great as a passer.
In his two starts, Jackson has completed 62.2% of his passes for 328 yards and one TD. The problem is, Jackson has thrown three INTs. Will the Ravens go with Jackson and his rushing ability, or will they choose the more established passer in Joe Flacco to help them earn a playoff spot?
They better decide quickly, because the Ravens have big games against the Chargers and Chiefs coming up, in addition to their games against the Falcons, Buccaneers and Browns. The Ravens have helped themselves by earning wins over the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans, who are both in the AFC Wild Card race. They own a tie breaker over both teams, but they may not even be who the Ravens need to worry about.
- Indianapolis Colts (6-5)
Indianapolis is a team the Ravens need to worry about, but unfortunately all they can do is hope they lose to their opponents to give them a better chance. That may be tough with how QB Andrew Luck has been playing as of late.
After starting 1-5, Luck has led the Colts to five straight wins. Over that five game span, Luck has completed 75.5% of his passes for 1,320 yards and 16 TDs. He’s only thrown three INTs in those five games.
Although the Colts have won five straight games, not a single one of those wins has come against a team with a winning record. I’m not trying to take anything away from Luck and the Colts. Wins are wins. I say this because I think it will be interesting to see how they’ll do during the most important stretch of the season.
Two of the remaining five teams the Colts have to play currently have winning record. Those two teams are the 8-3 Houston Texans and the 7-5 Dallas Cowboys. Houston is on an eight game win streak, while the defense of the Dallas Cowboys has always been tough this year. They’re coming off a dominating performance against Drew Brees and the Saints.
Will Andrew Luck be able to keep up the MVP level play when he has to take on two of the top defensive units in the NFL? He’ll have to if the Colts want a shot in the AFC Wild Card race. I predict the Colts will finish with a record of 9-7. Will that be enough to get them into the playoffs?
- Miami Dolphins (5-6)
For a team who started off 3-0, being at 5-6 has to be disappointing. Looking at the Dolphins’ depth chart, it’s easy to see why they’ve faded after a hot start. QB Ryan Tannehill was injured earlier in the year. QB Brock Osweiler is now the starter.
The injury to their starting QB isn’t the only injury issues this team is dealing with on offense right now. Seven offensive starters are currently listed as questionable. Seven! They’ve got some serious injury issues offensively.
While the defense has been solid this season and is currently in good shape, I’m not sure it will carry this team. Still having to the play Patriots and Vikings, I think they lose both games. That would give them a record of 8-8 at best, but I think they’ll actually finish worse than that.
Even if the Dolphins did finish with an 8-8 record, it won’t be enough to get them the final spot in the AFC Wild Card race.