Its week 15 of the NFL season and the AFC playoff picture remains wide open. Twelve teams are still in contention for the six AFC playoff spots available.

The AFC playoff picture is lead by the undefeated Indianapolis Colts (14-0) who are vying for a perfect NFL season record. They are followed by the Chargers (11-3), Patriots (9-5), Bengals (9-5), Ravens (8-6) and Broncos (8-6). Six other AFC teams (Dolphins, Jets, Jaguars, Titans, Texans and Steelers) are still alive with 7-7 records but their fate is dependent on the outcome of other AFC teams.

Here is the AFC Playoff picture going into Week 15 of the NFL season:

Indianapolis Colts (14-0)

• Clinched the AFC South and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs

San Diego Chargers (11-3)

• Clinched AFC West
• Clinches a first round bye with:
  win or tie OR
  New England loss or tie

New England Patriots (9-5)

• Clinches AFC East Division title with:
  win or tie OR
  Miami loss or tie

Cincinnati Bengals (9-5)

• Clinches AFC North Division title with:
  win OR
  tie and Baltimore loss or tie OR
  Baltimore loss

• Clinches a playoff spot with:
  tie OR
  Jacksonville loss or tie and Jets lose or tie and Houston-Miami tie

Baltimore Ravens (8-6)

• Clinches a playoff spot with:
  win and Jacksonville loss or tie and Jets loss or tie OR
  win and Jacksonville loss or tie and Denver loss OR
  win and Miami loss or tie and Jets loss or tie and Denver loss OR
  tie and Jets loss and Jacksonville loss and Tennessee loss or tie and Houston-Miami tie

Denver Broncos (8-6)

• Clinches a playoff spot with:
  win and Jacksonville loss or tie and Miami loss or tie and Jets loss or tie and Pittsburgh loss or tie

There are just too many AFC playoff picture possibilities for those teams with a 7-7 record. Week 15 of the NFL season will help unravel the complex AFC playoff picture.

sources: NY Daily News, nfl.com,espn.com

Is John Elway waiting in wings?  With the recent firing of the Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, is John Elway in the future of the team he took to two NFL championships?

The Hall of Famer and lifelong Denver Bronco has been mentioned as part of a new management team to bring the Denver Broncos back into contention.  Even fired coach, Mike Shanahan, believes that bringing back Elway would be a great move.

But is he interested?

Considering that Elway is co-owner of the Arena Football League’s Colorado Rush with Broncos owner Pat Bowden, the chances are good.  And I’m sure the two have spoken about it recently. 

As much as John Elway is a competitor, the opportunity of coming back to “big leagues”, to the team he led twice to NFL championships, much be enticing.

Elway is Mr. Colorado! He recently sold several car dealerships and his name is on a Steak House chain in the Denver area. He is also a shareholder in the Colorado-based Profesional Bull Riders Inc. and has teamed up with a store to produce his own line of signature furniture.

If Elway returns to the Broncos, it will not be as coach, but may he may be ripe for taking over as executive vice president of football operations – a role just vacated by the firing of Shanahan. 

Expect to hear more about this very soon.  Denver needs a coach and Elway is the guy to pick to right one!