The Case For These AFC Playoff Contenders

The AFC playoff picture is crowded right now. Aside from the Dolphins, Jets, and Broncos, everyone is in the running for a playoff spot right now. Let's sort through this crowded field and see who has a legit case.

• Cleveland Browns: The Case For: The Browns have an easy schedule ahead of them. The only team they face that's above .500 is Baltimore and that's a match-up in week 16 where the Ravens will probably have clinched a playoff spot. The Case Against: Their defensive line has been weakened. Myles Garrett has been suspended indefinitely (including the playoffs) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi has also been suspended. How will the Browns generate pressure without these guys?
• Oakland Raiders: The Case For: Like Cleveland, the Raiders have an easy schedule ahead of them. The only team they face that's above .500 is Kansas City. Their offense has also looked good. The Case Against: Oakland is yielding 381.7 total yards a game, an alarming statistic for a playoff contender. They're also allowing 283.2 passing yards a game, which doesn't bode well for Oakland.
• Los Angeles Chargers: The Case For: Los Angeles has been stingy against the pass, yielding 207.8 yards a game through the air. Their defense is allowing 318.3 yards a game. The Case Against: Despite leading the NFL in passing yards with 2,816, Philip Rivers has been prone to turning the ball over. Also, the defense (-6 give/take ratio) hasn't done a good job generating takeaways despite it being so stout.
• Buffalo Bills: The Case For: Like Los Angeles, they have an awesome defense. They are third in total yards allowed with 304.2 yards a game. The Case Against: Like Los Angeles, a lot will depend on the quarterback play down the stretch. Josh Allen must be better. Also, the Bills (-1) haven't generated many turnovers the same way the Chargers haven't.
• Pittsburgh Steelers: The Case For: Led by Minkah Fitzpatrick (five interceptions), the secondary has looked great for Pittsburgh. The Case Against: Pittsburgh's offense is atrocious. The fifth-worst offense in the league (283.5 yards a game) is missing some pieces (Ben Roethlisberger), but the team hasn't been able to move down the field (170 first downs this season, sixth-worst in the NFL).
• Tennessee Titans: The Case For: Tennessee has done a decent job stopping the run (102.5 yards a game allowed). The Titans are also allowing 19.7 points per game. The Case Against: Tennessee must figure out what its identity is on the offensive side of the ball. Should you let Derrick Henry dictate the game? Also, Tennessee must be better on third down (32.5% conversion rate, sixth-worst in the NFL).
  
• Indianapolis Colts: The Case For: Jacoby Brissett is expected to return this week and he's been a good replacement for Andrew Luck. Brissett has thrown 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions this season. The Case Against: Adam Vinatieri has struggled throughout the season, only making 70% of his extra-point attempts this season. Will kicking be a major problem down the road for Indianapolis?
  
• Jacksonville Jaguars: The Case For: Gardner Minshew has helped this team stick around with Nick Foles gone. Also, the Jaguars are sixth in the NFL in sacks with 30. The Case Against: Jacksonville hasn't been able to stop the run, allowing 120.2 yards per game this season. Also, nothing really sticks out with this team.
  
• Kansas City Chiefs: The Case For: Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill. Enough said. The Case Against: The defense, especially against the run, has been bad. This has cost the Chiefs some games this season.