2021 NFL Playoff Picture Week 14 - 5 AFC teams battling for the wild card spots

The 2021 NFL postseason is fast approaching and the race in the AFC is an exciting one. That's true from the No 1 seed all the way down. 13 teams are still right in the mix, and the wild card spots feature a thrilling race that could see teams swap spots all the way until the end of Week 18.

Every single division in the AFC remains up for the taking, but let's look at five teams currently in the Wild Card race heading into Week 14.

5 NFL teams in the AFC wild card race

Indianapolis Colts v Houston Texans

#5 - Indianapolis Colts, 7-6

The Indianapolis Colts have enjoyed a fantastic turnaround following a 1-4 start to the season. Carson Wentz has settled in and running back Jonathan Taylor is playing at an MVP level.

The Colts are currently 7-6 heading into a bye this week. That means they can sit back and see how all the competition plays out as they look to rise up from the ninth overall spot in the AFC standings.

One knock against the Colts is that they do have some easy victories this year. They have beaten the New York Jets, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Houston Texans (twice). But they also have overtime losses against tough NFL foes in the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans. This type of season basically sums up how it has been for every AFC contender in 2021.

The Colts are also just one win behind the Titans in the AFC South standings. But Tennessee fo own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Yet, even if the Colts get stuck in the wild card jam, they can still find a way to win the division if the Titans falter down the stretch.

#4 - Pittsburgh Steelers, 6-5-1

The Pittsburgh Steelers just keep hanging around in what seems to be Ben Roethlisberger's final season in town and perhaps in the NFL overall. The team started 1-3, and when all hope seemed lost, won four in a row to get to 5-3. They are 1-2-1 since then and find themselves eighth overall in the AFC heading into Week 14.

Their remaining schedule includes the Minnesota Vikings, the Tennessee Titans, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. That is not easy by any means, but the Steelers are so up-and-down this year that it is tough to predict which version of them will show up on a weekly basis.

For example, they were embarrassed by the Cincinnati Bengals only two weeks ago. The final score was 41-10 and it looked like the Steelers were done for good. They took down Baltimore on Sunday and now have a quick turnaround on Thursday against a Vikings team that has just lost to the Detroit Lions.

Anything is possible if Roethlisberger can provide competent play under center and if the defense plays tough like it did against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets

#3 - Buffalo Bills, 7-5

So much for the Buffalo Bills being top NFL contenders in the AFC. They are now two wins behind the New England Patriots in their own division after losing Monday night in what was supposed to be favorable weather for the home squad.

The Bills are now 7-5, clinging to the final wild card spot in the AFC. They now have to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road.

The Bills are in a tough spot because they have already lost to Tennessee, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. So if it comes down to a head-to-head tiebreaker against any of the three, Buffalo are in trouble. The fact they are even in this position right now is a major concern for their title pursuit.

#2 - Cincinnati Bengals, 7-5

The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the most confusing teams in the NFL. Yet somehow they sit at 7-5 and in the AFC's sixth spot this week. They are confusing because one week they will blow out the Baltimore Ravens, only to lose to the New York Jets next week. It does not make much sense.

The problem is the fact that the Bengals are still a young NFL team. Joe Burrow is in his first full season, and their top receiver, Ja'Marr Chase, is a rookie. Combine that with a full roster learning how to win, and it explains the rollercoaster season up to this point.

One bummer for Bengals fans was their team losing last Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers. It came one week after destroying the Steelers, which fits with the theme of the Bengals' season. You never really know what you are going to get.

#1 - Los Angeles Chargers, 7-5

The Los Angeles Chargers jumped into the top wild card spot after taking down the Bengals last week. The win also has the Chargers only one game behind Kansas City in the AFC West division. The Chargers also won their first meeting, and the two teams meet again in a few weeks.

The Chargers are like the Bengals in that they are being guided by a young NFL quarterback. Justin Herbert threw for three touchdowns against Cincinnati after the offense only scored 13 points a week prior against Denver.

The Chargers still have the New York Giants and the Houston Texans on their schedule, and those look like two easy wins right there. Their showdown with the Chiefs will ultimately determine if they can win the division, or if clinging to the top Wild Card spot is their best chance for the NFL postseason.

This represents a good progression for a team that went 7-9 in 2020 after going 5-11 the year before. But the losses allowed them to get Herbert in the NFL Draft, and that has worked out in a fantastic way after moving on from Philip Rivers. Fans are now excited about the heights the new franchise quarterback can reach in his career.