[J-E-T-S 4417]

Dom Bonvissuto
INSIDE THE NFL

Think it's too early for playoff projections? Think again. The postseason could get its first participants Sunday if things fall right for the Tennessee Titans and the Arizona Cardinals. Yes, the latter is the same franchise which hasn't been to the playoffs in a decade and has won exactly two playoff games in 88 years of existence.

Beginning today, SI.com will publish weekly playoff projections each Tuesday. We will lay out the playoff picture two ways: 1) As though the season ended today, and 2) As though the season will play out the way we predict it will.

We will use the NFL's official tiebreaker procedures to determine seeding. If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail us here. Without further ado...
AFC

Tennessee Titans (10-0)

If The Playoffs Started Today: In; No. 1 seed
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. NY Jets (W); at Detroit (W); vs. Cleveland (W); at Houston (L); vs. Pittsburgh (W); at Indianapolis (L)
Final Projected Record; Playoff Seeding: 14-2; No. 1 seed
Extra Point: We predict Tennessee's perfection will end in a meaningless road game at Houston after the Titans already secure home-field advantage. The Titans can clinch a playoff spot Sunday if the following four things all happen: 1) Titans win; 2) Dolphins lose or tie; 3) Ravens lose or tie; 4) Steelers lose.

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)

If The Playoffs Started Today: In; No. 2 seed
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. Cincinnati (W); at New England (L); vs. Dallas (L); at Baltimore (W); at Tennessee (L); vs. Cleveland (W)
Final Projected Record: 10-6; No. 4 seed
Extra Point: The most important game for Pittsburgh the rest of the way will be Week 15 at Baltimore; the Steelers beat the Ravens in Week 4.

New York Jets (7-3)

If The Playoffs Started Today: In; No. 3 seed
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): at Tennessee (L); vs. Denver (L); at San Francisco (W); vs. Buffalo (W); at Seattle (W); vs. Miami (W)
Final Projected Record: 11-5; No. 3 seed (lose tiebreaker with Denver on head-to-head)
Extra Point: After Week 12, all of the Jets' difficult games come at home.

Denver Broncos (6-4)
jay-cutler.jpg
Jay Cutler is trying to lead the Broncos to their first playoff appearance since 2005.


If The Playoffs Started Today: In; No. 4 seed
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. Oakland (W); at NY Jets (W); vs. Kansas City (W); at Carolina (L); vs. Buffalo (W); at San Diego (W)
Final Projected Record: 11-5; No. 2 seed (win tiebreaker with NY Jets on head-to-head)
Extra Point: With a two-game cushion in the AFC West, the Broncos could wrap up the division title relatively early and shoot for a first-round bye.

Indianapolis Colts (6-4)

If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 5 seed (wins tiebreaker with Baltimore and Miami on conference record)
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): at San Diego (W), at Cleveland (W), vs. Cincinnati (W), vs. Detroit (W), at Jacksonville (L), vs. Tennessee (W)
Final Projected Record: 11-5; No. 5 seed
Extra Point: Back-to-back road contests the next two weekends will show whether Peyton Manning and company are indeed back.

Baltimore Ravens (6-4)

If The Playoffs Started Today: No. 6 (wins tiebreaker over Miami on head-to-head)
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. Philadelphia (L); at Cincinnati (W); vs. Washington (W); vs. Pittsburgh (L); at Dallas (L); vs. Jacksonville (W)
Final Projected Record: 9-7; Out
Extra Point: Three games remaining against NFC East teams spell trouble.

Miami Dolphins (6-4)

If The Playoffs Started Today: Out
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. New England (W), at St. Louis (W), at Buffalo (L), vs. San Francisco (W), at Kansas City (W), at NY Jets (L)
Final Projected Record: 10-6; No. 6 seed (win tiebreaker with New England on head-to-head)
Extra Point: If the Dolphins hold serve against the three losing teams remaining on their schedule, they'll set themselves up nicely for an improbable trip to the playoffs.

New England Patriots (6-4)

If The Playoffs Started Today: Out
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): at Miami (L); vs. Pittsburgh (W); at Seattle (W); at Oakland (W); vs. Arizona (W); at Buffalo (L)
Final Projected Record: 10-6; Out
Extra Point: Huge game Sunday against the Dolphins, who already beat the Pats once this season. Tiebreaker scenarios do not favor New England if the projected results play out.

Buffalo Bills (5-5)
If The Playoffs Started Today: Out
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): at Kansas City (W), vs. San Francisco (W), vs. Miami (W), at NY Jets (L), at Denver (L), vs. New England (W)
Final Projected Record: 9-7; out
Extra Point: Losers in five of last six and sitting in last in the AFC East, it's difficult to see Buffalo making a serious run at the playoffs.

San Diego Chargers (4-6)

If The Playoffs Started Today: Out
Remaining Schedule (Projected Results): vs. Indianapolis (L), vs. Atlanta (W), vs. Oakland (W), at Kansas City (W), at Tampa Bay (W), vs. Denver (L)
Final Projected Record: 8-8; out
Extra Point: San Diego dug itself too deep a hole early, so even a strong final six games won't be enough to make the playoffs -- but will it be enough to save Norv Turner's job?

[CoachasaurusREX]

Alot of faith in the Broncos. I don't see it. I think we will beat them at home especially with our ability to control the clock against their porous run defense.

[wichitacommish]

Alot of faith in the Broncos. I don't see it. I think we will beat them at home especially with our ability to control the clock against their porous run defense.

I agree actually i see San Diego coming back and winning that sorry division. I also think Pittsburgh is better than they think they are. Our last game against Miami will have major implications.

[jetfan4life12]

[/quote]
i dont see the logic with our jets. this dude says we go to tennesee and lose. we then travel back home and lose to the broncos and win out after that. the last 4 games include two cross country trips. the niners especially will give us a fight. I dont remember the last time we won in San Francisco. I have flashbacks from the 1998 game when we got beat in OT on a Garrison Hearst 96 yard run.
If we lose in tennesee (which I am not certain of), then the Denver game will be huge. Going into the final 4 at 8-4 will be a good place to be. That way we could afford 1 slipup and still wind up at 11-5