subject: Nfl Tickets - Afc Playoffs Shape Up [print this page] For two teams, Week 12 proved significant, as the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts both clinched playoff berths with wins. The Bengals (8-3) topped the Cleveland Browns to take a two-game lead on both the Baltimore Ravens and the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, giving them the playoff spot. With both the Ravens and Steelers being competitive, the AFC North could yield one of the wildcard spots in the playoffs, as well. The Browns weren't ever really in the running, and they now have a record of 1-10 and are 0-5 in their division.
The Colts are even more secure in their division by beating the Houston Texans during Week 12. With an undefeated 11-0 record, they are miles ahead of the second-place Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South, as the Jaguars have a record of 6-5. The Colts' undefeated status had most analysts assuming the Colts would easily take their division, and fans can also expect a playoff game or two in Indianapolis.
The Colts have been no strangers to the playoffs over the last several years, but this season holds extra weight. Last season was their last with longtime coach Tony Dungy, and the 2009 season marked their first under Jim Caldwell. They are also out for revenge after falling to the San Diego Chargers in the first round of last season's playoffs. They are undeniably one of the elite teams in the league, as they won a Super Bowl following the 2006 season. Behind stars like quarterback Peyton Manning, running back Joseph Addai, defensive end Robert Mathis, defensive end Dwight Freeney and wide receivers Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, the Colts are looking primed for another run at the championship.
Although they have had their share of close game this season, the Colts have flexed their dominance in many of this season's matchups. They topped the Arizona Cardinals-who made the Super Bowl last season-31-10 during Week Three. They also topped the Tennessee Titans 31-9 during Week Five. To finish the season undefeated, they will have to top the Titans, Denver Broncos, Jaguars, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
The Cincinnati Bengals are posting quite the turnaround from last season. In 2008, they were hardly playoff contenders with a record of 4-11-1. Turn that tie into a loss and they would have had the same record as the last-placed Browns. They are under the direction of Marvin Lewis and have a slew of stars to help them succeed in the post season. The offense is led by quarterback Carson Palmer, running back Cedric Benson and wide receivers Chad Ochocinco and Laveranues Coles. The defense also has top leaders in defensive end Antwan Odom and middle linebacker Dhani Jones.
Although they have posted a couple of dominant games, the Bengals have won by less than a touchdown in half of their wins. They will have some tough games to finish out their season, like against the Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers and New York Jets. Fans can see their favorite team live with NFL tickets online.
