There are a bunch of teams at 6-4 and 5-5 who have a legitimate shot at making the postseason. Unlike years past, before the days of revenue sharing and salary caps, it was pretty simple to figure out who was going to make a serious run at the Super Bowl.

In this day and age, when parity is becoming the norm, anything is possible.

The Tennessee Titans have to be the clear-cut favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.  At 10-0, they have a four-game lead in the AFC South and if they can beat the New York Jets this weekend, they will have a four-game lead on the race to home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Head coach Jeff Fisher has not changed his coaching philosophy since he arrived in the Music City some 15 years ago. Play smashmouth defense and ball-control offense. Tennessee has one of the best defenses in the NFL led by Mr. Unblockable, Albert Haynesworth, in the middle and probably the most underrated linebacker in football in Keith Bullock. Offensively, the running back duo of “Smash and Dash” -- Lendale White and Chris Johnson -- are capable of taking it to the house on any given play and veteran QB Kerry Collins is providing steady leadership and playing solid, mistake-free football. As a whole, the Titans are playing with a chip on their shoulders because they believe they are not getting the respect they deserve. None of the “hoopla” that surrounded the New England Patriots last season has made its way to Nashville this year. But the Titans don’t seem to mind, they just use it as motivation and keep winning.

The battle for the last five playoff spots gets a little tricky. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets both sit at 7-3 but neither team is a lock for a first-round bye. The Steelers are on the road against the Patriots, Ravens and Titans and at home versus the Cowboys and Browns. The Jets have an easier path at home against the Broncos, Bills and Dolphins and at Tennessee this weekend. As long as head coach Eric Mangini can keep QB Brett Favre from throwing the football to the opposing team, the Jets have the best chance of claiming the second seed in the AFC. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is currently playing at about 75% and RB Willie Parker has been banged up for most of the season. If they can't stay healthy, the Steelers could fall all the way down to a wild card spot.

The Denver Broncos have a two-game lead in the AFC West and will secure a playoff spot. Coming off a big win against an up-and-coming Atlanta Falcons team in the Georgia Dome, finding a way to win despite playing without All-Pro CB Champ Bailey and all three of their original starting linebackers. As well as starting rookie 7th-round draft pick RB/FB Peyton Hillis because they have lost five different running backs this season to injury.

The 6-4 Indianapolis Colts will get in as a wild card. QB Peyton Manning is getting closer to looking like his old self and WR Marvin Harrison seems to be coming around as well. Defensively, safety Bob Sanders has to stay healthy to ensure a playoff run. The Colts defense is just average when he is not in the lineup. If everyone can stay healthy, there is a very good possibility they could even host a first round playoff game considering that they are coming together at the perfect time and their schedule is favorable: at San Diego, Cleveland and Jacksonville and at home against Cincinnati, Detroit and Tennessee. Within reach: 11-5.

The New England Patriots will edge the Baltimore Ravens for the final wild card spot. The high school all-american quarterback has found his stride, passing for 400 yards last week against the Jets. Imagine what could happen if he and WR Randy Moss can actually get on the same page. Once they can get a couple of RBs healthy, the Pats will be a potentially very dangerous team come January.

The Ravens still have one of the best defenses in the league despite being exposed by the New York Giants last week, but with an inexperienced, young QB and the whole NFC East left on their schedule, it’s going to be a stretch for the Ravens to make it to the playoffs this year.

Former All-Pro running back Dorsey Levens writes a weekly blog for playerpress.com at www.dorseylevensreport.com.