Tag: Playoff Picture

2 teams stand between the Broncos and the NFL playoffs

Broncos fans should root against the Bengals and Colts over the next eight weeks.

As we enter the final stretch of the 2024 NFL season, the Denver Broncos (5-5) are in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

Each conference sends four division winners and three wild card seeds to the postseason each fall. Right now, the Broncos are the AFC’s seventh seed, which would make them the conference’s third and final wild-card berth in 2024.

Denver is extremely unlikely to catch the Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) in the AFC West, but the Broncos could secure a wild card spot with a few key victories. If we assume the teams ranked above Denver will stay above them, the Broncos will have two key teams below them to fend off.

The Indianapolis Colts (4-6) are currently the No. 8 seed. Indy is on a three-game losing streak and they just made a quarterback change, so the Colts don’t appear to be Denver’s biggest threat. The Broncos will host Indy in Week 15.

Right below the Colts are the Cincinnati Bengals (4-6), and they are probably the biggest threat to Denver’s playoff hopes. The Broncos will go on the road to face the Bengals in Cincinnati in Week 17. That game could have massive playoff implications.

As things stand now, the Bengals and Colts are the two teams standing between Denver and the postseason. If the Broncos win those matchups, the team should be positioned to make the playoffs.

The Miami Dolphins (3-6) also aren’t dead yet, but they have a big hole to try to climb out of, and they aren’t on Denver’s schedule. The New York Jets (3-7) will also attempt to get back into the mix, but the Broncos already have a head-to-head tiebreaker victory over the Jets.

So the two key teams that Denver fans should be rooting against over the next eight weeks are the Bengals and Colts. If Cincy and Indy trip up and the Broncos keep up their current pace, Denver will make the NFL playoffs this fall.

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Broncos have 29% chance to make NFL playoffs

The Broncos (5-4) have a 29% chance to make the NFL playoffs, according to projections from The Athletic.

If the 2024 NFL season ended today, the Denver Broncos (5-4) would make the NFL playoffs.

The Broncos are currently third in the AFC West behind the Kansas City Chiefs (8-0) and Los Angeles Chargers (5-3), above the Las Vegas Raiders (2-7). The division is probably out of reach, but Denver could still compete for a Wild Card spot this fall.

The NFL’s two conferences (the AFC and NFC) send four division winners and three Wild Card seeds to the playoffs each season. Denver is currently the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoff race.

Despite currently holding a playoff spot, the Broncos only have a 29% chance to make the NFL playoffs, according to projections from The Athletic. They project Denver to finish the year with an 8-9 record.

AFC playoff picture after Week 9

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-0)
  2. Buffalo Bills (7-2)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-2)
  4. Houston Texans (6-3)
  5. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
  7. Denver Broncos (5-4)

The Broncos will attempt to fend off the Indianapolis Colts (4-5), Cincinnati Bengals (4-5) and New York Jets (3-6) in the coming weeks. Denver already beat the Jets earlier this season and the Broncos will face the Colts (home) and Bengals (away) later this season.

This week, Denver will go on the road to take on the Chiefs.

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Broncos are 2nd in division, AFC’s 5th seed after Week 8

If the season ended today, the Broncos would be one of the AFC’s Wild Card seeds in the NFL playoffs.

Eight weeks into the 2024 NFL season, the Denver Broncos are 5-3.

That’s good enough for second place in the AFC West, behind the Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) but above the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) and Las Vegas Raiders (2-6). Denver has one game each remaining against the Chargers and Raiders and two games remaining against the Chiefs.

The Broncos might not be able to catch KC in the division, but Denver is currently on pace for a Wild Card seed in the AFC.

Each conference sends seven teams to the NFL playoffs each year — four division winners and three Wild Card teams. Right now, the Broncos are currently the fifth seed in the AFC.

AFC playoff picture after Week 8

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
  2. Houston Texans (6-2)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
  4. Buffalo Bills (6-2)
  5. Denver Broncos (5-3)
  6. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)
  7. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)

Denver’s road game against the Ravens this week will have huge playoff implications. One week later, the Broncos will travel to Kansas City. The next two weeks could reveal if Denver is a contender or pretender in 2024.

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Broncos are in a playoff position going into Week 8

If the season ended today, the Broncos would be in the NFL playoffs.

The Denver Broncos improved to 4-3 with their 33-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football last week.

Following the rest of the results from Week 7, the Broncos are currently holding the final playoff spot in the AFC.

Each conference sends seven teams to the playoffs every season — four division winners and three Wild Card teams. Denver’s far behind the Kansas City Chiefs (6-0) in the AFC West, but the Broncos might be able to contend for a Wild Card seed this fall.

Here’s a look at the AFC’s current order of the top ten teams in the conference going into Week 8.

AFC playoff picture after Week 7

  1. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-0
  2. Houston Texans: 5-2
  3. Baltimore Ravens: 5-2
  4. Buffalo Bills: 5-2
  5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 5-2 (Wild Card)
  6. Indianapolis Colts: 4-3 (Wild Card)
  7. Denver Broncos: 4-3 (Wild Card)
  8. Los Angeles Chargers: 3-3
  9. Cincinnati Bengals: 3-4
  10. Miami Dolphins: 2-4

The Colts currently have a tiebreaker over the Broncos with a better winning percentage in conference games. Denver will host Indianapolis at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 15 on Dec. 15 in a game that could have big playoff implications for both clubs.

This week, the Broncos will host the NFC’s Carolina Panthers (1-6).

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Broncos are third in AFC West, just outside playoff picture after Week 6

Entering Week 7, the Broncos are in third place in the AFC West, but the team is still within reach of a wild card seed.

Six weeks into the 2024 NFL season, the Denver Broncos (3-3) are not on pace to make the playoffs.

The Broncos are currently ranked third in the AFC West behind the Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) and Los Angeles Chargers (3-2). Denver’s still above the Las Vegas Raiders (2-4), who the Broncos beat 34-18 in Week 5.

Winning your division is the safest way to secure a playoff spot, but Denver is considered a long shot to catch up to KC this season. A more realistic target would be aiming for a wild card spot.

After the four division winners, three other teams from the conference will qualify as wild card seeds. Right now, the Broncos are eighth in the conference, just outside the playoff picture.

Here’s a look at the AFC’s playoff order after Week 6.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
  2. Houston Texans (5-1)
  3. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
  4. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
  5. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
  7. Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
  8. Denver Broncos (3-3)

On deck for Denver is a road game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football in Week 7.

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Chargers’ playoff chances look promising after Week 6 win

The Chargers have a relatively easy schedule coming up.

The Chargers improved to 3-2 after defeating the Broncos last Sunday.

According to Playoff Status, the NFL post-season probabilities after Week 6 show that Los Angeles has a 66% chance of making the playoffs.

This factors in win/loss with a probability based upon relative strengths.

It’s still early in the season, but the Chargers have an opportunity to be in great shape after the next five games. The Cardinals, Saints, Browns, Titans, and Bengals—all teams below .500—are on tap.

Aside from having a relatively easy schedule coming up, the Bolts’ defense has continued to show it can make life difficult for any opposing offense. Meanwhile, the offense seems to be starting to click.

I predicted L.A. would make the playoffs at the beginning of the season, and the numbers are in favor of it, too.

NFL playoff picture: Broncos are currently AFC’s sixth seed

If the season ended today, the Broncos would make the NFL playoffs as the AFC’s sixth seed.

Following three straight wins, the Denver Broncos (3-2) are suddenly in contention to make the NFL playoffs as the AFC’s current sixth seed.

There’s still a lot of football left to be played, but if the season ended today, the Broncos would be a playoff team. Here’s a look at the standings for the top seven seeds in the AFC going into Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season.

AFC playoff picture

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
  2. Houston Texans (4-1)
  3. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
  4. Buffalo Bills (3-2)
  5. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
  6. Denver Broncos (3-2)
  7. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)

Denver has a huge game coming up against the Chargers in Week 6 that will have big implications in the AFC West and in the conference overall. L.A. is coming off its bye week going into the game.

Each conference (the AFC and the NFC) sends four division winners and three wild card teams to the playoffs. Right now, the Broncos are in a wild card spot with 12 games left to play.

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Podcast: Derek Carr, Saints hitting their stride before Week 18 Falcons game

Derek Carr, Saints hitting their stride, but there’s still much to prove entering showdown with Falcons

This week’s Saints Wire podcast is live with managing editor John Sigler (@john_siglerr) and our host Ryan O’Leary (@RyanOLearySMG) recapping the New Orleans Saints’ stunning road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — a win that kept the Saints’ playoff hopes alive.

But how likely is it for New Orleans to reach the postseason? Which games need to break their way in Week 18? And what’s the outlook for their pivotal rematch with the same Atlanta Falcons team that beat them earlier this year?

Follow the Saints Wire Podcast:
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Jaguars interested in ‘only one’ playoff scenario: Win and in

Doug Pederson is only interested in one path to the playoffs for the Jaguars.

There are two paths to the postseason for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who currently sit atop a three-way tie for the AFC South lead. They could beat the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and defend their title as division champs. The other scenario isn’t one Jaguars coach Doug Pederson is interested in thinking about.

“There’s only one,” Pederson said. “There’s only one that matters right now for us. … That’s all I need to tell the team. There’s nothing other than trying to win this game on Sunday.”

If the Jaguars manage to beat the Titans in Nashville on Sunday, they’d own the No. 4 seed in the AFC and host the Cleveland Browns in the wild card round.

There is a backdoor into the postseason if Jacksonville loses, though. If the Baltimore Ravens, who have secured the No. 1 seed, beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, the Jaguars would only need the Las Vegas Raiders to beat the Denver Broncos on Sunday if they lose to the Titans.

“I’m not going to cloud their mind with stuff,” Pederson said. “Obviously, our focus is trying to beat Tennessee and regardless of records and who’s playing and who’s not playing, this is always a really good football game and it’s a four-quarter game. That’s our focus right now.”

The Jaguars have won the AFC South just twice since its creation in 2002 and never in back-to-back seasons. During their tenure in the AFC Central, Jacksonville won the division title in the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

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Updating Saints’ playoff odds after beating the Buccaneers

How did beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers change the New Orleans Saints’ playoff odds? Here’s the outlook after Week 17:

The odds aren’t in their favor, but that isn’t going to cause the New Orleans Saints to keel over and give up. The New York Times Playoff Picture simulator tripled their odds of reaching the postseason after Sunday’s win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now the Saints have a 37% shot at making the playoffs, largely due to their 27% chance of winning the NFC South. It’s technically possible the Saints could earn the seventh playoff seed as a wild card team in the NFC, but it’s very, very unlikely — this simulator gives them less than a 1% shot at it. They’ll need help from two or three other games to clinch it.

Still, the Saints don’t control their own destiny. The reason their chances of winning the division and reaching the playoffs are so low is because they’ll need the Buccaneers to lose again in Week 18 even if New Orleans defeats the Atlanta Falcons. They dug quite a hole for themselves and now they’ll need help getting out of it. They have a chance, and at this point it’s all fans can ask for.

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