The wild scramble for the wild-card No. 6 seed in the AFC includes six teams with matching 5-6 records, and the team to fear — for the Jets and the rest of the scrum — is the surging Steelers. Â The Jets and Dolphins, who face off this week, round out the list.
1. Steelers
Mike Tomlin is as good a motivator as there is, bringing his team back from the brink after an 0-4 start. They will be dangerous if the offensive line (one sack allowed in the past two games) can continue to keep Big Ben Roethlisberger (6 TDs, 0 INTs over last two games with lots of no-huddle) upright. Dick LeBeau’s defense has 10 sacks over the last three games, and the secondary has forced seven turnovers.
“Right now we’re playing playoff football,” Emmanuel Sanders said.
A Thanksgiving Night grudge match in Baltimore is next.
“We’re getting on a roll at the right time,” dime back Will Allen said.
2. Ravens
Any team coached by John Harbaugh can’t be dismissed, but the defending champs can’t play Geno Smith and Stephen Hill every week. But the disappearance of Ray Rice leaves Joe Flacco with a one-dimensional offense. The imminent return of tight end Dennis Pitta can help only so much.
3. Chargers
Philip Rivers is playing better than his Super Bowl ringmaster Class of 2004 rivals Eli Manning and Roethlisberger, rookie wide receiver Keenan Allen was a third-round steal, Danny Woodhead always makes the right play, and they play four of their last five games at Qualcomm. But how often can they ask Seyi Ajirotutu to catch the game-winning touchdown pass?
4. Titans
The season ends at Jacksonville and home against Houston. But first, Ryan Fitzpatrick will have to deal with Indianapolis and Denver on the road and Arizona at home. Rookie wide receiver Justin Hunter may be ready to take the heat off Kendall Wright.
5. Jets
If you lose trust in your quarterback, you have no chance. Rex Ryan better guard against defensive players sniping against the sputtering offense. Team Idzik would lose any playoff tiebreaker with the Steelers, Ravens and Titans.
6. Dolphins
They’ve lost six of eight and are spending too much time being interrogated by NFL investigator Ted Wells about L’Affaire Incognito. The offense has failed seven consecutive times to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Ryan Tannehill’s fourth-quarter QB rating is 60.2. Top running back Lamar Miller averages 43 rushing yards per game. They are soft against the run. If there’s a way to lose, Joe Philbin’s boys will find it.