Fourteen weeks of Premier Madden League football have come and gone. We are officially onto week 15 of the season and we are here to check who is leading each division and who is officially the bottom feeder of each division.
AFC East:
Leader: Buffalo Bills (10-3) – The Bills have a comfortable three game lead over the Dolphins and Patriots. They split with the Dolphins and play one more game left against the Patriots. The Patriots game will determine alot for this division. One more Bills win, with a Dolphins and Patriots loss would essentially win them the division. They play a tough four game stretch so this would be the easiest way for them to get into the playoffs, even if they lose the rest of their games.
Bottom: New York Jets (1-13) – The Jets are under new management. They have a new coach, and front office. While they have only been in the league for a few games, they were able to win more games in that short amount of time than the previous Jets coach did all season. Even though they beat the other lowly team in New York, a win is a win. They have three games left and will face all playoff contenders. This will be their true test and we will see if this win was just a fluke, or if they can prove to be a team to reckon with next season.
AFC West:
Leader: Denver Broncos (11-2) – The defending SuperBowl Champs have been on a winning streak since week 8. They have beaten every opponent they have faced, while winning in a number of different ways. Their most recent way to win was a knock off fake field goal throw for a touchdown. Hats off to the Broncos coach as he is winning with a less than stellar team and a quarterback who wouldn’t start on any other team. As long as both teams win out, the week 18 matchup versus the Chiefs could be for the division. The Broncos already won the first matchup so it will be interesting to see how the final one sets up.
Bottom: Los Angeles Chargers (6-7)- Even though they are on the bottom of this division, they could be leading others with their current record. The Chargers don’t have the luxury of an easy division, however, they are competing and this could be the first time that a division sends four teams to the playoffs. It won’t be easy for the Chargers but the log jam that is the AFC wildcard race gives them the opportunity to fight for their playoff spot.
AFC North:
Leader: Baltimore Ravens (7-7) – Going from 1-5 to 7-7 even in this misfit of a division is saying something. Everyone wrote off the Ravens when they were struggling, however, they have clawed their way back to the top spot in the division. Their final schedule includes three teams with a combined record of 30-10. If they finish the season still in the top spot, no one can say that the AFC North is just a placeholder.
Bottom: Cleveland Browns (4-9) – Oh how the mighty have fallen. The Browns this cycle have gone from a top five team in a favorable division to a bottom feeder who can’t win one of the easiest divisions in the league with one of the best rosters in the league. We can’t quite point out what has gone massively wrong for the Browns, but it could have started with moving up for a quarterback who they dont even like at the moment. Although harsh words have been said, the Browns still have a shot at the division crown. It will take everything that they have and a bit of luck, but it can still happen.
AFC South:
Leader: Houston Texans (10-3) – The Texans franchise has gone through the worst of times and is currently sitting in the best of times. This is a franchise who believed in their coach, and despite their original roster, trading a great quarterback, and all of their constant injuries, they are sitting in a perfect spot at the top of the division. The Jaguars are hot on their trail, however, control their destiny and their schedule includes four teams with losing records. It is a safe bet that they will be on top at the end of the season.
Bottom: Tennessee Titans (6-8) – The Titans gave up alot in order to find their missing piece in Bryce Young this offseason, however, it hasn’t translated in the ground breaking wins that they would have thought. At 6-8, they aren’t out of the playoff race, however will need to win every game going forward, while having teams lose as well. They will only face off against one team with a winning record, however, like the Titans, the Dolphins will be fighting for a wildcard spot as well. Any loss will knock them out of playoff contention.
The changes that happen during the season from beginning to end are fascinating. The Ravens straighten out their season and lead the AFC North while the Texans, Broncos, and Bills have kept their leads. I believe that the division leaders will stay the same so it will come down to the last three wildcard spots for the remaining teams in the AFC. The Chiefs, and Jaguars have a stranglehold on their spots and will most likely keep them, so that leaves 7 teams battling it out for the final spot. All teams in contention will face at least one team fighting for their playoff lives, however, the Raiders have the easiest remaining schedule. In just a few short weeks we will see who the real playoff teams are but as of now my predictions are Broncos, Bills, Texans, Ravens, Chiefs, Jaguars, and Raiders.
