Tag: Playoff Picture

NFL playoffs bracket: Can the Broncos win the Super Bowl?

If the Broncos (No. 7) beat the Bills (No. 2) in the Wild Card round, Denver would then face the Chiefs (No. 1) in the divisional round.

The Denver Broncos have made the NFL playoffs!

Now comes the hard part.

The Broncos are set to go on the road to face the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, Jan. 12.

Denver is the lowest seed in the AFC (No. 7) and Buffalo is the No. 2 seed. The Kansas City Chiefs, the No. 1 seed, are on a first-round bye. If the Broncos upset the Bills on Sunday, they would advance to face KC in the divisional round of the playoffs.

What a story that would be. After getting into the postseason by beating the Chiefs’ backups, Denver could face KC’s starters a few weeks later.

If the Broncos upset Buffalo and then beat the Chiefs, who they would play next depends on who advances in the bracket. The most likely opponent would be the Baltimore Ravens (No. 3 seed), but the Houston Texans (No. 4), Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5) and Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 6) are all possibilities.

As the bottom seed in the conference, Denver would be the road team in each round of the playoffs — if the Broncos advance. And for the dreamers in Broncos Country, the AFC will also be the “road team” in Super Bowl LIX this season. The Super Bowl will be played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 9.

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AFC playoff picture: There are now 2 possible opponents for Chargers in wild card round

Who will the Chargers face in the wild-card round of the playoffs?

The Chargers now control their playoff fate after the Steelers lost to the Bengals on Saturday.

If Los Angeles beats the Raiders on Sunday, they will lock up the fifth seed and travel to Houston to play the Texans in the wild-card round.

However, if the Bolts lose to Las Vegas, Pittsburgh will get the fifth seed, and L.A. will be locked into the sixth seed, sending them to Baltimore to take on the Ravens next weekend.

With a win required for the best-case scenario, head coach Jim Harbaugh will likely play his starters. If the Chargers have a big enough lead, he could elect to pull them and play the backups.

Once all the games finish at the end of the day tomorrow, we will know the date and time Los Angeles will play and the broadcast it will be televised on.

NFL playoff picture: Clinching scenarios for AFC’s Wild Card contenders

The Broncos, Dolphins and Bengals are fighting for the final Wild Card spot in the AFC going into Week 18. Here are the clinching scenarios.

Going into the final week of the 2024 NFL season, there are three teams competing for the final and seventh seed in the AFC playoff race.

The Denver Broncos (9-7) currently hold the No. 7 seed, but if they don’t beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, one of the Miami Dolphins (8-8) or Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) could overtake them for the final Wild Card spot.

The Broncos will host the Chiefs and the Dolphins will face the New York Jets on Sunday. The Bengals will travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

Here are the playoff-clinching scenarios for those three teams going into Week 18.

NFL playoff picture: AFC Wild Card

  • If the Broncos beat (or tie) the Chiefs, Denver would clinch a playoff berth.
  • If the Broncos lose to the Chiefs and the Dolphins beat the Jets, Miami would clinch a playoff berth.
  • If the Broncos lose to KC and the Dolphins lose to NY and the Bengals beat the Steelers, Cincinnati would clinch a playoff berth.
  • If the Dolphins and Bengals both lose, Denver would clinch a playoff berth even if the Broncos lose to the Chiefs.

The Buffalo Bills are locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC, so if the Broncos reach the postseason, they will face the Bills in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

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Broncos HC Sean Payton comments on Chiefs potentially resting starters in Week 18

Denver #Broncos head coach Sean Payton comments on Kansas City #Chiefs potentially resting starters in Week 18 | @EdEastonJr

The Denver Broncos still need one victory to clinch a spot in the postseason, and they will have to defeat the AFC West division champions on Sunday. Denver head coach Sean Payton spoke with reporters on Monday, addressing his team’s overtime loss in Week 17 and looking ahead to possibly facing a resting Kansas City Chiefs squad on Sunday.

“I told (the team) after the game, I said, ‘This is part of it,” said Payton. “We don’t get to choose. You guys have seen the big sign when you enter that locker room area. You have to keep fighting.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid hinted that multiple players could miss the Week 18 regular-season finale. However, Payton focused on the game plan rather than the players on the field.

“I think you have to approach it like you’re seeing starters at these positions. I think you’re looking at the scheme relative to the game plan and then planning on seeing the player you’re watching on film,” said Payton. “If someone else is in that spot, then so be it.”

The Broncos clinch a playoff berth with a victory on Sunday or losses or ties from the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.

Chiefs have difficult decision to make in Week 18

Two rival teams could see their playoff hopes dashed based on the outcome of the #Chiefs’ Week 18 matchup in Denver.

The Kansas City Chiefs will have a difficult decision to make when they play the Denver Broncos in Week 18.

The 9-7 Broncos are still in playoff contention after their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, and Denver needs a win against Kansas City on January 5 to punch its ticket to the postseason.

If the Chiefs manage to defeat the Broncos, Cincinnati will have a chance to pull ahead of Denver in the playoff standings if the Bengals can earn a win over the 10-6 Pittsburgh Steelers in their final regular season game, and if the Miami Dolphins lose or tie against the New York Jets on Sunday.

These circumstances leave Kansas City in an enviable position—as the Chiefs could potentially end the season of one of their most bitter rivals, whether they win or lose in Week 18.

Should Kansas City’s backups simply do their best to stay healthy and capitulate to the Broncos, which would enable Denver to knock Cincinnati out of the playoffs?

Or, should the Chiefs do their level best to dismantle the Broncos for a chance to face Joe Burrow and the Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium in the divisional round and exorcise demons of postseasons past?

Ultimately, Kansas City can’t lose in Week 18, even if the Chiefs’ record falls to 15-2.

NFL playoff picture: Broncos poised for tough Wild Card matchup

If the Broncos make the NFL playoffs, they will face the Bills in the Wild Card round.

The Denver Broncos (9-7) haven’t clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs just yet, but the AFC’s playoff picture is starting to come into focus.

The Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) have secured the No. 1 seed in the conference and they are expected to rest their starters against the Broncos in Week 18.

Right below the Chiefs are the Buffalo Bills (13-3), who have clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC. That’s an unfortunate development for the Broncos.

Denver’s only hope of making the playoffs would be as the AFC’s seventh and final seed. Because the No. 1 seed gets a first-round bye, the No. 2 seed faces the No. 7 seed in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.

That means the Broncos would travel to Buffalo to face Josh Allen and the Bills on the road in the first round — if they qualify for the playoffs.

AFC Playoff Picture

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
  2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
  3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
  4. Houston Texans (9-7)
  5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
  7. Denver Broncos (9-7)

In the Hunt

  1. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
  2. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)

The Broncos can clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs with a win (or tie) against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. If Denver does not beat KC, the Broncos would need help from the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins to get in.

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Steelers could fall victim to Bengals’ momentum in Week 18

The Steelers and Bengals prepare for a critical Week 18 showdown, with momentum potentially playing a key role in the AFC North race.

Back in Week 13, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 44-38 in an AFC North shootout. The Black and Gold accumulated over 500 yards of offense in their victory but failed to capitalize on this offensive momentum in the weeks that followed.

Since that incredible offensive showing, the Pittsburgh Steelers have gone four straight games with under 200 passing yards and have lost three of their last four games.

The Cincinnati Bengals, however, rebounded by winning four straight games since the loss, producing more than 300 yards of offense in each victory.

As the Steelers scramble to readjust to their newfound position below the Ravens in the AFC North, the Bengals are just a Dolphins’ and Broncos’ loss away from re-entering the AFC playoff picture.

With the entirety of the AFC North’s regular-season games ending in divisional head-to-head matchups on Saturday, January 4—with the Cleveland Browns taking on the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals facing the Pittsburgh Steelers—the Black and Gold faithful must ask themselves: will momentum be the deciding factor in Week 18’s regular-season finale?

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AFC playoff picture: Chargers guaranteed to face 1 of 3 teams in wild-card round

The Chargers have secured their spot in the playoffs. Find out the three teams they could meet in the wild-card round.

The AFC playoff field has three guarantees: The Chiefs will hold the No. 1 seed, the Bills will have the second seed and the Texans will have the fourth seed. The rest of the seeds will be determined this upcoming weekend.

The Chargers are locked in with either the No. 5 or 6 seed. They can’t finish with the seventh seed after the Broncos lost to the Bengals last Saturday, as Los Angeles holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Denver.

One thing is certain: The Bolts will face one of three teams.

Below is the most straightforward path to each potential matchup in the wild-card round.

(4) Texans vs. (5) Chargers

  • Chargers win
  • Steelers loss

(3) Ravens vs. (6) Chargers

  • Steelers win
  • Ravens win
  • Chargers win or loss

(3) Steelers vs. (6) Chargers

  • Steelers win
  • Ravens loss
  • Chargers win or loss

Pittsburgh plays against the Bengals on Saturday night, which means the Chargers will know then if they can jump up to the fifth seed before they kick off against the Raiders.

Which seeds can Chargers secure in AFC playoff field?

The Chargers have clinched a playoff spot, but seeding is still up for grabs in the AFC.

The Chargers punched their ticket to the playoffs after defeating the Patriots on Saturday.

Now, the question remains: Which seed will Los Angeles get?

There are two options:

The Bolts can secure the No. 5 seed with a win over the Raiders next weekend and the Steelers lose to the Bengals.

If Pittsburgh wins, L.A. can’t get the fifth seed because the Steelers own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

If the Chargers were to get the fifth seed, they would play the fourth-seed Texans, who won the AFC South, on the road in the Wild Card Round.

The No. 6 seed is the lowest Los Angeles can get after the Broncos lost to the Bengals on Saturday night. L.A. owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Denver.

The only way the Chargers get the sixth seed is if they lose to the Raiders or the Steelers beat the Bengals.

Should Los Angeles get the sixth seed, they would travel to face the AFC North champion, which is currently the Ravens.

However, if the Steelers win and Baltimore loses, the Chargers would go to Pittsburgh.

NFL’s playoff picture is a nightmare scenario for Broncos

If the season ended today, the Broncos would face the Bills in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

Everything went against the Denver Broncos (9-6) in the AFC’s playoff race in Week 16.

The Broncos had two scenarios to clinch a playoff berth this past weekend. Denver could have secured a playoff spot with a win OR with losses/ties by the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts.

The Broncos ended up losing 34-27 to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, then the Dolphins, Bengals and Colts all won on Sunday.

Denver is currently the seventh and final seed in the AFC, setting up a nightmare scenario for the first round of the NFL playoffs. If the season ended today, the Broncos would face the Buffalo Bills (the No. 2 seed) in the Wild Card round.

Denver can clinch a playoff berth on Saturday with a win over the Bengals.

Here’s a look at the AFC’s current playoff picture going into Week 17.

AFC Playoff Picture

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
  2. Buffalo Bills (12-3)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
  4. Houston Texans (9-6)
  5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
  7. Denver Broncos (9-6)

In the Hunt

  1. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
  2. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

If the Broncos don’t beat Cincinnati, the playoff race will come down to the final week of the regular season. Over the next two weeks, Denver needs one win or losses/ties from each of the Bengals, Dolphins and Colts. Right now, it’s looking like a Broncos-Bills matchup in Round 1.

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