Tag: NFL Playoffs

Jaguars face first playoff elimination scenarios in Week 13

Jaguars face first playoff elimination scenarios in Week 13

The Jacksonville Jaguars face their first playoff elimination scenarios of the 2024 season in Week 13.

Sitting at 2-9 and in last place in the AFC South, a loss to the Houston Texans (7-5) on Sunday would knock Jacksonville out of its divisional running, per NFLplayoffscenarios.com.

Further, the Jaguars would be eliminated from postseason contention by losing paired with the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) and Denver Broncos (7-5) both winning or tying their Week 13 matchups, against the Atlanta Falcons (6-5) and Cleveland Browns (3-8), respectively.

The Jaguars were the first team locked out of a No. 1 playoff seed this season, when the final whistle blew in their 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions (10-1) in Week 11.

The Las Vegas Raiders (2-9), New York Giants (2-9), New England Patriots (3-9), Carolina Panthers (3-8), Tennessee Titans (3-8), New York Jets (3-8) and Browns have since followed suit. Jacksonville is now out of the running for the No. 2 and 3 AFC playoff seeds, too.

The Jaguars and Texans’ Week 13 matchup, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Houston beat Jacksonville in the Jaguars’ first AFC South matchup of the year, 24-20 in Week 4.

What are the Broncos’ chances of making the NFL playoffs?

The Denver Broncos’ playoff chances are improving.

Following a 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, the Denver Broncos remain the seventh and final playoff seed in the AFC.

The Broncos seem unlikely to catch the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, but securing one of the conference’s three Wild Card seeds is an attainable goal.

Following their big win on Sunday, the Miami Dolphins (5-6) are suddenly Denver’s biggest threat after they leapfrogged the Indianapolis Colts (5-7) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-7). The Broncos will play the Colts (Week 15) and Bengals (Week 17) later this season, but Miami is not on Denver’s schedule.

Here’s a look at AFC’s playoff picture following Week 12.

AFC Playoff Picture

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
  2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
  4. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
  5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
  6. Houston Texans (7-5)
  7. Denver Broncos (7-5)

In the Hunt

  1. Miami Dolphins (5-6)
  2. Indianapolis Colts (5-7)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)

So, what are the Broncos’ chances of reaching the postseason?

The Athletic gives Denver a 63% chance of reaching the playoffs. ESPN has also given the team a 63% chance. DVOA has the most optimistic outlook, giving the Broncos a 73.3% chance to reach the postseason.

Up next for Denver is a home game against the Cleveland Browns (3-8) on Monday Night Football in Week 13. The Broncos will then have a bye in Week 14 before returning for the final four games of the season.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Kyle Shanahan discusses 49ers’ sense of urgency with playoff hopes dwindling

Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers know that they have very little margin for error moving forward.

After an embarrassing 38-10 loss at the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers are running out of room for future errors.

The loss dropped San Francisco to 5-6 and saw the 49ers lose back-to-back games for the second time this season.

Fortunately for San Francisco’s sake, no team has truly grabbed hold of and seized command of the wide-open NFC West. Even with its current record, San Francisco is level with the Los Angeles Rams and sits just one game back of the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals who are each 6-5 after Week 12 action.

Looking at the overall NFC Playoff picture, though, a division crown could very well be the only pathway forward into the postseason for the 49ers.

San Francisco saw firsthand on Sunday the strength of the NFC North. The Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Packers appear poised to swallow up three playoff bids and the NFC East looks like a two-bid division with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders.

In his meeting with the media on Monday, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed the sense of urgency that he and the 49ers know they need to have moving forward.

“Yeah, without a doubt. I think everyone knows. You’ve just got to look at it for a couple minutes to realize where we’re at. It’s nice when you’re one game out of first in your own division. So that does say a lot, especially being able to play two of those teams left of our six games.

“But you also know, you look at the whole NFC picture and if you don’t win the division, it’s 10-7 not guaranteed to get in as a Wild Card by any means this year. So I think everyone understands completely outside and inside what the situation is,” Shanahan said.

As Shanahan also discussed, it’s why the 49ers’ consecutive losses versus the Seattle Seahawks and at the Green Bay Packers the past two weeks sting so much.

“That’s why that Seattle game was so tough of a loss and that’s why last night was even worse. We know what we got ahead of us. We know exactly what that playoff situation is. That is what it is,” Shanahan said.

Now that it’s dug itself a hole, San Francisco truly can’t think much beyond the task at hand.

“But really all that matters is this week. When you do need to go on a run and put a lot of wins to even think of that, then you better make sure you’re only thinking of one thing and that’s Buffalo.

“And so, we’ve had to take care of a lot of stuff today. I’m hoping that guys will take care of their bodies stuff here over the day and a half they’re away from us. We’ll come back Wednesday fully understanding the situation we’re in and coming back ready to fight because that’s all we can do right now is just fight our butts off. And I’ll be very surprised that not every guy in this building when I see them Wednesday isn’t ready for that exact mindset that we’re going to need to pull off what we feel we can,” Shanahan said.

If San Francisco can win at Buffalo (9-2) this week, that will go a long way toward restoring the belief that this team can make a push during the season’s stretch run.

After Buffalo, the 49ers close with games versus Chicago, versus the Los Angeles Rams, at Miami, versus Detroit and at Arizona.

The current NFC Playoff picture looks like this:

1. Detroit Lions (10-1)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)
3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (8-3)
7. Washington Commanders (7-5)

Arizona is just outside the playoff picture in eighth place, while San Francisco is in a logjam with fellow 5-6 squads Tampa Bay and Los Angeles.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Commanders’ losing streak benefits the Saints

The Washington Commanders’ losing streak has them almost out of the playoff picture. This would boost the Marshon Lattimore trade compensation:

The New Orleans Saints traded Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders at the trade deadline. Lattimore was dealing with a hamstring injury that led to him missing the last opportunity he had to put on a Saints jersey.

The same hamstring has also kept him out of action since joining the Commanders. He’s missed three games, but luckily none of the Saints compensation is tied to how much Lattimore plays.

In return for Lattimore, the Commanders gave New Orleans their own third and fourth round picks. New Orleans also got a sixth round pick in return, but that was technically the Saints pick already.

Since the trade, the Commanders have lost three games in a row. As a playoff team, their draft position can’t be pinpointed. They’re only a half game ahead of the Cardinals, however, for the final wild card spot in the NFC.

Lattimore has multiple years left on his contract, so who won the trade is still up in the air. If the Commanders’ recent struggles continue, it could help the Saints in the draft this year. On the Saints’ side, drafting well is all they can do to win the trade.

Adam Schefter says the Bengals are still a dangerous playoff team

Some aren’t giving up on the Bengals, it seems.

The Cincinnati Bengals sat out on bye in Week 12 while hoping for some help in the AFC standings while sitting at 4-7.

During the week while the Bengals were resting though, national media had all sorts of takes about the state of the team’s playoff chances.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter, for example, went on the Pat McAfee show and said he’s not counting the Bengals out just yet: “The Cincinnati Bengals are still a dangerous football team and I think they’re still capable of making a playoff push…It’s gonna be tough but they still can do it.”

Much of the remaining hope for the Bengals still stems from the MVP-level play of quarterback Joe Burrow, who even has other players around the NFL talking about how he should be in the MVP conversation.

And Schefter’s point about the Bengals still being all-in on the season and other AFC playoff teams not wanting to see them when it’s one-and-done is a good point.

For the Bengals to make any of this remaining hype matter, though, they need to storm out of the bye week and steal a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Will Broncos make the NFL playoffs this season? John Elway chimes in

“I think they’re starting to hit stride,” John Elway said of the Broncos, who he believes are on track to make the NFL playoffs this fall.

The Denver Broncos are 6-5 with six games remaining this season and team legend John Elway believes they will snap an eight-year playoff drought this fall.

“Yeah, I do,” Elway said during an interview with Broncos Wire about Dupuytren’s contracture and his treatment. “I think I think they’re starting to hit stride. I think, obviously the disappointing loss in Kansas City just goes to show you that they can play; they’re two-time defending world champions.

“And so, in Kansas City to play the way (Denver) played, I think they’re continuing to get better and better each week, especially offensively and defensively. They’ve been great (on defense) all year.

“So if they can — there’s so many variables, as you know, we got to stay healthy — and if we can stay healthy and have that ball bounce our way, there’s no question that they’re a playoff team and hopefully they continue to improve like they have.”

John Elway spoke with Broncos Wire in a three-part interview this week. Elway discussed Dupuytren’s contracture in Part 1 and rookie quarterback Bo Nix in Part 2. Elway won three Super Bowls in Denver — two as a quarterback and a third as an executive. He stepped down from his role with the Broncos following the 2022 season.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos approved NFL’s historic ‘TNF’ flex decision, but why?

The Broncos signed off on their Week 16 game against the Chargers being flexed to ‘Thursday Night Football.’ So, why did they agree to it?

For the first time in NFL history, the league announced a Thursday Night Football flex on Friday.

Flex scheduling for TNF was approved last year, but it hadn’t been utilized until the NFL announced that the Denver Broncos‘ game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16 would be flexed from Sunday to Thursday.

Because the Broncos already played a road TNF game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7, they had to sign off on being flexed into a second road TNF game this season, and they did. So, why’d they agree to it?

One possible reason for agreeing to the flex might be so they get more rest ahead of their Week 17 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Denver will have a short week after hosting the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 15 and they going on the road to play the Chargers on Dec. 19, but the Broncos will now get a mini bye before playing the Bengals on Dec. 28 or 29.

Cincinnati was originally scheduled to host the Cleveland Browns on TNF in Week 16, which would have given the Bengals extra rest going into the Denver game. Following the flex, the Broncos will now have extra rest.

That Denver-Cincinnati game could have huge playoff implications in the AFC, and it might be a candidate to get flexed to Saturday. If it is set for Dec. 28, that would give the Bengals another rest disadvantage.

So, it seems safe to assume the Broncos were taking that Cincinnati game into consideration when they agreed to the TNF flex.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos’ defensive dominance is a good omen for NFL playoffs

The Denver Broncos are on pace to finish in the top three in yards allowed and points allowed, which is a good sign for the playoffs.

Eleven games into the 2024 NFL season, the Denver Broncos rank third in yards allowed (289.4) and third in points allowed per game (16.6).

As NFL.com’s Kevin Patra pointed out on Twitter/X earlier this week, 44 teams have finished in the top three of both yards allowed and points allowed over the last 30 seasons. Of those teams, all 44 made the NFL playoffs and 19 of them made it at least to the conference championship game.

Vance Joseph’s unit certainly has the team on track to make some noise down the stretch.

“They’re playing great,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said of Denver’s defense. “They’re having a great year. They get us the ball back in a timely manner. They stop the offense. They keep it relatively low scoring. We have been good at certain points, and we haven’t at times on offense to parallel that. At the same time, they’re going to continue to play that way. We just have to continue to rely on them and know that they’re going to make plays. Then we kind of have to pick it up and match it when they do. We have to help them out and be there for them. They’ve done a spectacular job all year.”

After sacking Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins three times on Sunday, the Broncos now rank first in the NFL with 39 sacks this season. Perhaps even more impressive was the team holding Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson to just 35 rushing yards on 12 carries.

“He’s explosive,” coach Sean Payton said of Robinson. “Their wide-zone scheme, they do a great job with him. If that gets going, then everything else falls in place for the quarterback. We felt like the primary key to winning this game was when the game ended, who won the rushing battle. We know that they were a good rushing team, but they’re a hard team to beat if you don’t have an answer for him. He’s an extremely talented player. They do a great job by design. That was really important.”

Denver remains on pace to make the NFL playoffs, and if the defense continues playing at this level, the Broncos could make some noise in the postseason.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Jamie Erdahl ranks Broncos as a top-5 team in the AFC

NFL Network’s Jamie Erdahl ranked the Bills, Steelers, Chiefs, Ravens and Broncos as the top-five teams in the AFC.

The Denver Broncos have been hot in recent weeks and NFL Network’s Jamie Erdahl is buying into the hype.

Erdahl recently ranked the Broncos as the fifth-best team in the AFC.

“I like Sean Payton, I’m getting on the Peter Schrager Sean Payton bandwagon,” Erdahl said on Good Morning Football earlier this week. “I think it’s very dangerous when you have a coach come in, the second year into the system, he has created a culture and a dynamic … he got his quarterback, [and they have a] really good defense.”

Erdahl has the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Broncos ranked as the top teams in the conference.

Erdahl ranked Denver above teams including the Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) and Houston Texans (7-4). Right now, both those teams sit above the Broncos in the AFC’s playoff picture.

Fans in Denver will hope that Erdahl’s rankings prove to be accurate at the end of the season.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

NFL insider isn’t counting Bengals out of playoff race just yet

One expert isn’t going to be the one to say the Bengals are done.

The Cincinnati Bengals might have to win out to make the playoffs now that the record sits at 4-7 during the bye week.

No easy task, to say the least — but some aren’t giving up.

When asked which team under .500 still has the best shot at the playoffs, ESPN’s Dan Graziano still took the Bengals:

I have to say the Bengals, even though I don’t think they can get there anymore. If things fall apart for some of the teams on the back end of the AFC race and Cincinnati runs the table to sneak in, it is going to be a formidable opponent because it has a championship-caliber offense. (And if the Bengals do run the table, I have to assume that means the defense is playing better).

If the Bengals could just find a way to field an even league-average defense during the bye week, making a playoff push would still be a slim possibility — assuming Joe Burrow can keep going at his MVPish level.

Out of the bye, the Bengals play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, one of five AFC teams left on the schedule over their last six games.

With a little help in an AFC that has been all over the place, the Bengals could still make a run, but the inability to close out games against good teams looms large over the bye.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]