AFC Playoff picture: Dolphins top Jets, bump Steelers down to 10th

The Miami Dolphins got three field goals from Caleb Sturgis to, um, power their way to a 16-13 win over the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.

The win vaulted the Dolphins into position to grab the final wild card spot in a highly competitive AFC race. They are one of six AFC teams currently at 7-5, and they join the Chargers (8-4) as the top non-division-leading playoff contenders.

The Steelers, licking their wounds after a loss to the New Orleans Saints, sit in the 10th spot by virtue of a slew of tiebreakers they don't win essentially because Baltimore is 2-1 in its games with Pittsburgh and Cleveland. The Steelers are 2-2 in those games, having split with both teams and the Browns are 1-2, having lost to the Ravens earlier this year.

Kansas City (seventh) and Buffalo (eighth) sit on top of Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

The Patriots remain the top seed by virtue of a win over No. 2-seed Denver earlier this year. Both teams are 9-3. The AFC North-leading Bengals, at 8-3-1, are the third seed, and Indianapolis, at 8-4, is the fourth seed.

If the playoffs started today:

Miami at Cincinnati
San Diego at Indianapolis
New England, Denver bye