Entering the final week of the 2009 NFL regular season, seven teams have a chance to grab the final two sports in the AFC. The two teams that can control their own destiny are the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets. Both of these teams will be heavy favorites against weak opponents (Oakland) or teams with nothing to play for (Cincinnati). If either of these teams wins they will join Indianapolis, San Diego, New England, and Cincinnati in the playoffs. If one of them loses, they are most likely out and the remaining five teams will try and move up the ladder and get into the top six. The following will diagnose what each team has to do in order to accomplish their goals.

1. Indianapolis Colts- Clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs
2. San Diego Chargers – Clinched the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye
3. New England Patriots – Clinched AFC East, can clinch No. 3 seed with a win on Sunday
4. Cincinnati Bengals- Clinched AFC North, can clinch No. 3 seed with a win and New England loss
5. New York Jets – win and they clinch the No. 5 seed
6. Baltimore Ravens – win and they clinch the No. 6 seed

Get your $100 freebet at Bovada
(the new Bodog)
CLICK HERE

Teams that need help

Denver Broncos – Denver currently holds the No. 5 seed but would drop down to No. 7 if the Jets and Ravens win because of common opponents.

1. Denver win + NY Jets loss/tie + Baltimore loss/tie
2. Denver win + NY Jets loss/tie + Pittsburgh loss/tie
3. Denver win + NY Jets loss/tie + Houston Win
4. Denver win + Baltimore loss/tie + Pittsburgh loss/tie
5. Denver win + Baltimore loss/tie + Houston win
6. Pittsburgh loss + Baltimore loss + Houston loss + Jacksonville loss
7. Pittsburgh loss + Baltimore loss + Houston loss + NY Jets loss
8. Pittsburgh loss + Baltimore loss + Jacksonville loss + NY Jets loss
9. Pittsburgh loss + Houston loss + Jacksonville loss + NY Jets loss
10. Miami loss/tie + NY Jets loss + Baltimore loss + Houston loss + Jacksonville loss/tie

Pittsburgh Steelers

1. Pittsburgh win + Houston loss/tie + NY Jets loss/tie
2. Pittsburgh win + Houston loss/tie + Baltimore loss/tie
3. Pittsburgh win + NY Jets loss/tie + Baltimore loss/tie + Denver loss/tie

Houston Texans

1. Houston win + NY Jets loss/tie + Baltimore loss/tie
2. Houston win + NY Jets loss/tie + Denver loss/tie
3. Houston win + Baltimore loss/tie + Denver loss/tie

Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Jacksonville win + Pittsburgh loss + Baltimore loss + Denver loss + Houston loss
2. Jacksonville win + Pittsburgh loss + Baltimore loss + Denver loss + NY Jets loss
3. Jacksonville win + Pittsburgh loss + Baltimore loss + Houston loss + NY Jets loss
4. Jacksonville win + Denver loss + Baltimore loss + Houston loss + NY Jets loss
5. Jacksonville win + NY Jets loss + Denver loss + Houston loss + Baltimore loss

Miami Dolphins

1. Miami win + NY Jets loss + Baltimore loss + Houston loss + Jacksonville loss/tie

If you enjoy reading this article you'll like our Handicapping the Super Bowl page. If you plan on betting NFL you'll also want to read our NFL draft predictions page. Our football sportsbook page is also a valuable tool for your NFL research. For more NFL articles and free picks visit our homepage and view the "Doc's Daily Medicine" section.

Well there you have it! It should be an exciting week especially since the NY Jets game has been dropped back to Sunday night. If you need NFL winners Doc’s Sports is your place. Doc has been handicapping the NFL since 1971 and is one of the few handicappers that have withstood the test of time.