(Nov. 29, 2005) -- Seven AFC teams are 7-4 or better -- including the 11-0 Colts -- with five weeks remaining on the NFL schedule. Ten teams in the conference either reside in first place in their division or are within two games of first as the playoff picture continues to develop.
Among the clubs seeking to make up ground and improve their position in a competitive postseason field are the Kansas City Chiefs (7-4, .636). Winners of three of their past four games, the Chiefs have equaled their win total of a year ago and are charging hard in the AFC West. Every team remaining on Kansas City's schedule owns a record of 7-4 or better, giving them the toughest strength of schedule (.691) of the AFC contenders.
"The pressure is on us," Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil said. "And with our kind of players that we have here, the pressure is an advantage. It brings the best out of us. You can use it as an excuse, but our guys have bought into taking the pressure on and using it to motivate them to work harder, prepare harder and play harder."
Following is the remaining strength of schedule for the eight AFC teams that are above .500 with five games to go:
AFC EAST
| TEAM | NEW ENGLAND (6-5) |
| OPP. RECORD | 19-36 (.345) |
| WEEK 13 | N.Y. Jets (2-9) |
| WEEK 14 | at Buffalo (4-7) |
| WEEK 15 | Tampa Bay (7-4) |
| WEEK 16 | at N.Y. Jets (2-9) |
| WEEK 17 | Miami (4-7) |
AFC NORTH
| TEAM | CINCINNATI (8-3) | PITTSBURGH (7-4) |
| OPP. RECORD | 26-29 (.473) | 30-25 (.545) |
| WEEK 13 | at Pittsburgh (7-4) | Cincinnati (8-3) |
| WEEK 14 | Cleveland (4-7) | Chicago (8-3) |
| WEEK 15 | at Detroit (4-7) | at Minnesota (6-5) |
| WEEK 16 | Buffalo (4-7) | at Cleveland (4-7) |
| WEEK 17 | at Kansas City (7-4) | Detroit (4-7) |
AFC SOUTH
| TEAM | INDIANAPOLIS (11-0) | JACKSONVILLE (8-3) |
| OPP. RECORD | 30-25 (.545) | 21-34 (.382) |
| WEEK 13 | Tennessee (3-8) | at Cleveland (4-7) |
| WEEK 14 | at Jacksonville (8-3) | Indianapolis (11-0) |
| WEEK 15 | San Diego (7-4) | San Francisco (2-9) |
| WEEK 16 | at Seattle (9-2) | at Houston (1-10) |
| WEEK 17 | Arizona (3-8) | Tennessee (3-8) |
AFC WEST
| TEAM | DENVER (9-2) | SAN DIEGO (7-4) | KANSAS CITY (7-4) |
| OPP. RECORD | 25-30 (.455) | 35-20 (.636) | 38-17 (.691) |
| WEEK 13 | at Kansas City (7-4) | Oakland (4-7) | Denver (9-2) |
| WEEK 14 | Baltimore (3-8) | Miami (4-7) | at Dallas (7-4) |
| WEEK 15 | at Buffalo (4-7) | at Indianapolis (11-0) | at N.Y. Giants (7-4) |
| WEEK 16 | Oakland (4-7) | at Kansas City (7-4) | San Diego (7-4) |
| WEEK 17 | at San Diego (7-4) | Denver (9-2) | Cincinnati (8-3) |
