Click on picture to Zoom

Right now, the best team in the AFC East is the New York Jets, even with last week’s 34-17 loss to the Broncos in the equation.

Hey, bad games happen. The Jets lost to a team they were supposed to beat: Next.

The only serious competition for the Jets in the East is the New England Patriots. And, Patriot QB Matt Cassel has proven himself an able back-up this year, but is just not the guy that is going to bring the Pats back into serious contention in the playoffs (if they even get there).

The Steelers exposed not only Cassel’s shortcomings during last week’s 33-10 rout of the once-dynasty, but also highlighted a defense that is a shadow of the Pats’ No. 1 ranked 2005 team. Defense wins big games, and the Pas don’t have one that can stop the best teams in the league.

The Jets could allow the Pats or Dolphins to climb back into the hunt for first place, but I don’t think they’re going to do that by going into a spiral. Barring a massive Jet anxiety attack and collapse, though, I think the Jets are entering in a strong position, albeit not home field, going into the postseason.

Meanwhile, the Steelers, in the AFC North have proven they are serious about this season, garnering an AFC-second best 9-3.

At the end of the line, there awaits the 11-1 Tennessee Titans, in the AFC South, with home field throughout the playoffs all but assured.

Also in the South, the 8-4 Indianapolis Colts aren’t going away, winning a crucial contest against the Browns last week through a strong defensive effort.

The Broncos, 7-5, in the West, are sure to lock up their lagging division and amble into the postseason.

Right now, the Jets are probably the third-best team in the AFC, though they share the same overall record as the Colts and Baltimore Ravens. The Jets have been more consistent than the Colts and have a vastly improved offense over the Ravens in most offensive categories.

In the NFC, the 11-1 New York Giants are the team to beat. Barring anymore high-impact injury losses, the Giants look as good as a team can for playoff contention.

Last week, the Giants made their point again to a good Redskin team in a 23-7 victory at Landover, Md. Giant QB Eli Manning threw for almost 300 yards, the Giants aren’t drawing anywhere near the penalties they did last year and the turnovers are darn few nowadays. Big Blue is also controlling the clock better and they’re winning the war of first downs. Last week, the Giants controlled the clock for 35:44, compared to the Redskins’ 24:16. They also gained 23 first downs, six more than the Skins.

The biggest contention in the NFC is coming from the South, in either the 9-3 Buccaneers or the 9-3 Carolina Panthers.

Last week, the Panthers showed they still had a lot left in the tank as they edged out Green Bay 35-31, in a game where the Pack was strong throughout. The question in Carolina has always been what team will show up at game time: The guys who are barely awake for the loss or the tenacious fighters that won’t give up a yard.

Down in Tampa, Florida, QB Jeff Garcia is on the job, an experienced captain at the helm of a good offense that can play above its talent level, quite frequently.

As for the NFC North, I guess someone has to take the division there, technically speaking. Whoever it is has my vote for best ‘One-and-Done’ in the playoff picture.