With 2 weeks left in the season, 3 AFC teams clinched division titles on Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos have all put an end to their division races, and will be once again returning to the playoffs.
The Indianapolis Colts clinched their 2nd straight AFC South title with a 17-10 win over the Houston Texans. Andrew Luck threw 2 touchdown passes and Adam Vinatieri made a late field goal to seal the victory. 36 year-old WR Reggie Wayne has now reached the playoffs in 12 of his 14 NFL seasons. Wayne holds the record with 209 career games played and 142 career wins.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots clinched their 6th consecutive AFC East title with a blowout 41-13 win over the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots are now the first NFL team with 11 division titles in 12 seasons. The only blemish was in 2008, when Tom Brady tore his ACL in the first game of the year, and the Dolphins won the division.
The Patriots moved to 11-3 on the season, and scored a team-record 24 3rd-quarter points after leading 14-13 at halftime. Brady threw 2 TD passes in the quarter, and finished with 287 passing yards for the game. This win also avenges a 33-20 loss to Miami in their season opener, which snapped a 10-game season opener winning streak.
In San Diego, a presumably sick and injured Peyton Manning lead the Denver Broncos to their 4th straight AFC West title with a 22-10 win over the Chargers. Manning threw for 232 yards and a TD, after feeling sick the night before, and leaving the game in the 2nd-quarter with a thigh injury.
Brock Osweiler took over after Manning blocked LB Donald Butler on a run by C.J. Anderson. Osweiler went 0-for-2 for the rest of the first half, but Manning came out of the locker room to begin the second half.
The Broncos also sit at 11-3 after their 4th straight win, and are tied with the Patriots for the top spot in the AFC. The Patriots hold the tiebreaker due to a 43-21 win over the Broncos on November 2nd. Denver's win marks their 12th consecutive division road win ties the San Francisco 49ers from 1987-90 for the longest such streak.
These 3 division champions will continue to battle for the top spot in the AFC, a first round bye, and home-field advantage in the postseason. But on Sunday, they continued to do what they've been doing for years, and that's win.
The Indianapolis Colts clinched their 2nd straight AFC South title with a 17-10 win over the Houston Texans. Andrew Luck threw 2 touchdown passes and Adam Vinatieri made a late field goal to seal the victory. 36 year-old WR Reggie Wayne has now reached the playoffs in 12 of his 14 NFL seasons. Wayne holds the record with 209 career games played and 142 career wins.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots clinched their 6th consecutive AFC East title with a blowout 41-13 win over the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots are now the first NFL team with 11 division titles in 12 seasons. The only blemish was in 2008, when Tom Brady tore his ACL in the first game of the year, and the Dolphins won the division.
The Patriots moved to 11-3 on the season, and scored a team-record 24 3rd-quarter points after leading 14-13 at halftime. Brady threw 2 TD passes in the quarter, and finished with 287 passing yards for the game. This win also avenges a 33-20 loss to Miami in their season opener, which snapped a 10-game season opener winning streak.
In San Diego, a presumably sick and injured Peyton Manning lead the Denver Broncos to their 4th straight AFC West title with a 22-10 win over the Chargers. Manning threw for 232 yards and a TD, after feeling sick the night before, and leaving the game in the 2nd-quarter with a thigh injury.
Brock Osweiler took over after Manning blocked LB Donald Butler on a run by C.J. Anderson. Osweiler went 0-for-2 for the rest of the first half, but Manning came out of the locker room to begin the second half.
The Broncos also sit at 11-3 after their 4th straight win, and are tied with the Patriots for the top spot in the AFC. The Patriots hold the tiebreaker due to a 43-21 win over the Broncos on November 2nd. Denver's win marks their 12th consecutive division road win ties the San Francisco 49ers from 1987-90 for the longest such streak.
These 3 division champions will continue to battle for the top spot in the AFC, a first round bye, and home-field advantage in the postseason. But on Sunday, they continued to do what they've been doing for years, and that's win.
