AFC Standings: With Seventh Win, New York Jets Remain Tied With New England Patriots For Division Lead, AFC's Best Record

by Matt Birch on Nov 16, 2010 3:33 PM EST

Parity: a breath of fresh air which has swept the NFL this year. Something we haven't seen in this league for a long time.

Literally every week, we watch the mainstream media flip-flop and change their vote on who is the best team in both the AFC & NFC. Then, one day, they had some crazy epiphany and finally realized that every team in the NFL this year has a flaw of some sort. There are no dominant, seemingly flawless teams like the Colts, Steelers and Patriots of the past (or the Saints of last year, for that matter).

So, maybe that's why every the division races in the AFC are closer than they have been in decades. Each and every division leader does so by a maximum of only one game, and three of the four divisions currently have ties for the lead. Crazily enough, the NFC's division leaders all lead by a max of only one game also.

Updated AFC Standings (per ESPN):

American Football Conference
AFC EAST	W	L	T	PCT	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK
NY Jets	7	2	0	.778	2-2-0	5-0-0	3-0-0	5-1-0	208	150	+58	Won 2
New England	7	2	0	.778	4-0-0	3-2-0	2-1-0	6-2-0	258	214	+44	Won 1
Miami	5	4	0	.556	1-3-0	4-1-0	1-2-0	3-4-0	172	192	-20	Won 1
Buffalo	1	8	0	.111	1-4-0	0-4-0	0-3-0	0-6-0	164	245	-81	Won 1
AFC NORTH	W	L	T	PCT	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK
Baltimore	6	3	0	.667	4-0-0	2-3-0	2-1-0	6-2-0	196	165	+31	Lost 1
Pittsburgh	6	3	0	.667	2-2-0	4-1-0	2-1-0	4-2-0	200	162	+38	Lost 1
Cleveland	3	6	0	.333	2-3-0	1-3-0	1-2-0	2-4-0	172	182	-10	Lost 1
Cincinnati	2	7	0	.222	1-3-0	1-4-0	1-2-0	1-5-0	184	213	-29	Lost 6
AFC SOUTH	W	L	T	PCT	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK
Indianapolis	6	3	0	.667	4-0-0	2-3-0	1-2-0	4-2-0	240	185	+55	Won 1
Tennessee	5	4	0	.556	2-2-0	3-2-0	1-0-0	2-4-0	241	179	+62	Lost 2
Jacksonville	5	4	0	.556	3-2-0	2-2-0	2-1-0	4-3-0	196	250	-54	Won 2
Houston	4	5	0	.444	2-3-0	2-2-0	1-2-0	3-3-0	217	257	-40	Lost 3
AFC WEST	W	L	T	PCT	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK
Oakland	5	4	0	.556	4-1-0	1-3-0	3-0-0	3-2-0	235	188	+47	Won 3
Kansas City	5	4	0	.556	4-0-0	1-4-0	1-2-0	4-4-0	212	194	+18	Lost 2
San Diego	4	5	0	.444	3-1-0	1-4-0	0-2-0	3-3-0	239	197	+42	Won 2
Denver	3	6	0	.333	2-3-0	1-3-0	1-1-0	2-5-0	203	252	-49	Won

Remember, we are big Peyton Manning fans this week, Jets fans. We have a winnable game at home against Houston, while New England has one of their toughest remaining ones of the season against the Colts.

Obviously, the Jets currently hold the tie-breaker as they beat the Patriots in head-to-head play, but still have to face their rivals again in a couple of weeks. While they are currently 3-0 in the division which helps things nicely, it would be great to gain a game of separation as some insurance, though.

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Comments

I really don’t think there’s anymore parity this year than there was last year, or any other year prior. Seems to me that every year there a team or two that exceed expectations along with another team or two that fails to meet them.

We just need to keep winning. Some how some way. Just win. Once we get to 11 i think we’re in, and we’ll see how things shake out from there.

by Crackback on Nov 16, 2010 3:54 PM EST reply actions

I guess the only difference

is an absolutely dominating team.

Darrelle Revis once won a game of Connect Four in three moves.

by bm01bath on Nov 16, 2010 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

I don't read newspapers no more so this is the first time all season I've looked at one of these

I love finding fun facts like, the Browns and the Dolphins have scored the same amount of points but the Browns have given up ten less points. So which team is better? It has to be the Dolphins who have a better record. The Jets have scored more and given up less points then Baltimore and Pittsburgh. In fact, the Jets have given up less points then anybody in the conference. The most important stat for the Jets in division recored, the second most important stat is conference recorded. Of course both are important after overall record. This is why we need the Colts to beat the Pats. If the Jets lose to the Pats, which I don’t see happening, after division record they go to conference record as a tie breaker.

by BIG OH!!!!! on Nov 16, 2010 4:01 PM EST reply actions

wow, The Jets on the Road...

Is anyone else in the league still undefeated when away?

That’s a bit disconcerting when cheering for the Jets to get home field advantage.

"...my dad taking me to see my two "teams" and me looking up at him after the 6th goal thinking, "What have you done to me?"" - Dom
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.

by Mark D on Nov 16, 2010 4:07 PM EST reply actions

Nope, just the Jets.

and the HOLMES of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
If you can touch it, you can catch it.

by dvdvil on Nov 16, 2010 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

As a Jets fan, I’d rather us be clear cut at the top, but, as a fan of the sport, the parity and the uncertainty are great. I’ll take leading the division though.

by random122 on Nov 16, 2010 4:55 PM EST reply actions

What I can’t help but wonder is, do we want a playoff bye week considering the way we opened the season and the way we played after our recent bye? How important is momentum to this team?

by SioneBAAOOOHA on Nov 16, 2010 5:12 PM EST reply actions

Bye week? Are you crazy? We gotta do whatever it takes to make sure we don’t play any home games!

by nationalist88 on Nov 16, 2010 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

LOL

and the HOLMES of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
If you can touch it, you can catch it.

by dvdvil on Nov 16, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

Lol. Im not sure I want Schotty to have an extra week to “prep” himself into the ridiculous. He’s probably the only person that a bye-week would actually NOT help.

by Crackback on Nov 16, 2010 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

i hope you guys are wrong because after the Bengal game the Jets will have 12 days to prepare for the Pats

So will the Pats as they also play on Thanksgiving. Say what you want about Billicheat, but he has his teams ready to play when he has extra time to prepare. Still think the Jets take them.

by BIG OH!!!!! on Nov 16, 2010 6:38 PM EST up reply actions

The Jets were extremely flat to start the season and after the bye. I wouldnt forfeit a first round bye, but I think that would be a huge topic if they did get one. As far as home field with the way they’ve played on the road, would you rather play the Colts in their cozy windless dome or in the variable cold weather conditions of the new meadowlands? I think that’s a pretty obvious choice. They, the Ravens, and the Patsies are all undefeated at home so far. The Jets need to focus more on making their homefield an advantage for them.

by Ozone on Nov 16, 2010 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

The Jets 5-0 road record has been against weaker opponents

The last three road games are New England, Pittsburgh, and Chicago – all currently Division leaders. The only road win against a team currently with a winning record was against Miami (now 5-4). The Jets need to take care of business at home, where they are only 1-2 against Division leaders. If the Jets earn a playoff bye, I think Rex approaches it a little differently than the regular season bye.

by Fate on Nov 17, 2010 2:03 AM EST reply actions