The AFC playoff picture

Once you're ready to forget about the Monday night clunker that was the Jets game, start reading the rest of this blog post. It contains what you need to know about the Jets and the AFC playoff outlook for the remaining 25 percent of the season.

It says nothing of the woeful defensive performance last night, or the three interceptions by Mark Sanchez, or the pass intereference by Eric Smith, or the 12-yard punt from Steve Weatherford or how Rex Ryan royally messed up his challenges in the first half.

Rather, it is a look at the playoff picture in the AFC with four weeks left for the 10 teams at .500 or better, plus remaining schedule information. As luck would have it, the Jets currently have the hardest strength of schedule remaining.

1. New England Patriots 10-2
2. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-3
3. Kansas City Chiefs 8-4
4. Jacksonville Jaguars 7-5
5. New York Jets 9-3
6. Baltimore Ravens 8-4
7. Indianapolis Colts 6-6
8. Miami Dolphins 6-6
9. Oakland Raiders 6-6
10. San Diego Chargers 6-6
 

Key games coming up this week

Jets vs. Miami
Kansas City at San Diego
Jacksonville vs. Oakland

Remaining schedules for each team

SEE PHOTOSJets-Patriots rivalry through the years

New England

Dec. 12: at Chicago (9-3)
Dec. 19: vs. Green Bay (8-4)
Dec. 26: at Buffalo (2-10)
Jan. 2: vs. Miami (6-6)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 25-23 (.521)

Steelers

Dec. 12: vs. Cincinnati (2-10)
Dec. 19: vs. Jets (9-3)
Dec. 23: vs. Carolina (1-11)
Jan. 2: at Cleveland (5-7)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 17-31 (.354)

Kansas City

Dec. 12: at San Diego (6-6)
Dec. 19: at St. Louis (6-6)
Dec. 26: vs. Tennessee (5-7)
Jan. 2: vs. Oakland (6-6)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 23-25 (.479)

Jacksonville

Dec. 12: vs. Oakland (6-6)
Dec. 19: at Indianapolis (6-6)
Dec. 26: vs. Washington (5-7)
Jan. 2: at Houston (5-7)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 22-26 (.458)

Jets

Dec. 12: vs. Miami (6-6)
Dec. 19: at Pittsburgh (9-3)
Dec. 26: at Chicago (9-3)
Jan. 2: vs. Buffalo (2-10)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 26-22 (.542)

Baltimore

Dec. 13: at Houston (5-7)
Dec. 19: vs. New Orleans (9-3)
Dec. 26: at Cleveland (5-7)
Jan. 2: vs. Cincinnati (2-10)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 21-27 (.438)

Indianapolis

Dec. 9: at Tennessee (5-7)
Dec. 19: vs. Jacksonville (7-5)
Dec. 26: at Oakland (6-6)
Jan. 2: vs. Tennessee (5-7)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 23-25 (.479)

Miami

Dec. 12: at Jets (9-3)
Dec. 19: vs. Buffalo (2-10)
Dec. 26: vs. Detroit (2-10)
Jan. 2: at New England (10-2)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 23-25 (.479)

Oakland

Dec. 12: at Jacksonville (7-5)
Dec. 19: vs. Denver (3-9)
Dec. 26: vs. Indianapolis (6-6)
Jan 2: at Kansas City (8-4)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 24-24 (.500)

San Diego

Dec. 12: vs. Kansas City (8-4)
Dec. 16: vs. San Francisco (4-8)
Dec. 26: at Cincinnati (2-10)
Jan. 2: at Denver (3-9)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 17-31 (.354)