Tag: Playoffs

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

The Broncos are getting closer and closer to the NFL playoffs. Here’s how Denver can clinch a postseason berth in 2024.

Following a 41-32 win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football, the Denver Broncos improved to 8-5 and they remain the seventh and final playoff seed in the AFC.

Results elsewhere in Week 13 were mixed. The Miami Dolphins (5-7) lost on Thanksgiving and the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) lost on Sunday, but the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) and Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) won this week.

The Broncos will play the Colts, Chargers and Bengals right after their bye, so Denver controls its playoff fate. As Andrew Mason of DenverSports.com has pointed out, if the Broncos beat the Colts in Week 15, Denver will need just one more victory and one Dolphins loss to clinch a playoff berth.

Here’s a look at AFC’s playoff picture following Week 13.

AFC Playoff Picture

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
  2. Buffalo Bills (10-2)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
  4. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
  5. Houston Texans (8-5)
  6. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
  7. Denver Broncos (8-5)

In the Hunt

  1. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
  2. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)

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

The Athletic gives Denver a 79% chance of reaching the playoffs. ESPN has given the team a 76% chance. DVOA has the most optimistic outlook, giving the Broncos an 82.5% chance to reach the postseason.

Denver will now have a bye in Week 14 before hosting the Colts in Week 15. The Broncos will then have back-to-back road games against the Chargers and Bengals before hosting the Chiefs in their season finale.

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NFL playoff picture: What are Chargers’ chances of making postseason after win over Falcons?

The Chargers are in excellent position to play beyond the regular season.

The Chargers beat the Falcons on Sunday, improving their record to 8-4 and their chances of making the playoffs.

According to NFL.com, Los Angeles has a 94% chance of making the playoffs. With the Bolts’ win and the Ravens’ loss to the Eagles on Sunday, L.A. moved back up to the fifth seed.

Here’s a look at the division standings entering Week 14:

1. Chiefs (11-1)

2. Chargers (8-4)

3. Broncos (7-5)

4. Raiders (2-10)

And a look at the playoff picture:

*There are (7) available Playoff spots

1. Chiefs (11-1)

2. Bills (10-2)

3. Steelers (9-3)

4. Texans (8-5)

5. Chargers (8-4)

6. Ravens (8-5)

7. Broncos (7-5)

8. Colts (6-7)

9. Dolphins (5-7)

10. Bengals (4-8)

AFC playoff matchups if the season ended today:

  • No. 2 Bills vs. No. 7 Broncos
  • No. 3 Steelers vs. No. 6 Ravens
  • No. 4 Texans vs. No. 5 Chargers

B/R believes the Saints could play spoiler late in the season

The playoffs are still a long shot for the Saints, but a B/R writer believes they can upset a playoff team before the season is over.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon broke down each NFL team’s status going into Week 13, and he has a unique take on the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are coming off their bye week before facing the Los Angeles Rams. Instead of looking directly at their next game, Gagnon looked further down the road:

At the very least, a rejuvenated Saints team looks primed to play spoiler against Washington and/or Green Bay in December.

Interim head coach Darren Rizzi has this team playing with a new energy, and it’s resulted in two consecutive victories. Can it result in three?

How firm Gagnon stands on his evaluation will depend slightly on how the Saints perform this week.

New Orleans doesn’t look like a playoff team yet. They have shown some of the spark displayed early in the season but it’s difficult to generate too much belief after a seven game losing streak.

They could catch a team like Washington or Green Bay slipping if overlooked. The Saints still have more to prove to say it’s a good chance.

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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.

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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.

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Which teams should Saints fans be rooting for during the Week 12 bye?

As Saints fans watch the Week 12 slate of NFL games, here is who you should root for if you want a higher draft pick or if you want potential playoff seeding:

The New Orleans Saints are in a nice little middle ground between competing for a potential playoff spot and having a strong draft pick. As they are now on a 2-0 streak under Darren Rizzi, the favor has gone towards competing for a spot in the playoffs rather than a high pick for some fans, which is completely understandable.

Both sides make sense in this equation, and ultimately it becomes personal preference over all else. With that, we can now take a look at which teams you should be rooting for in either case as we look ahead to the Week 12 bye. Here is a rundown of both options:

In the case of competition

When it comes to trying to compete, the AFC has little to no connection to where the Saints reside and their playoff chances. So, looking at the NFC schedule, the first and foremost issue resides with the other NFC South teams. The Atlanta Falcons are on a bye week as well, which makes things a little difficult as they can’t lose, but they also can’t win so it’s about net even. The two divisional games are:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants:

The decision here is easy, a New York Giants win would put the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 4-7 and tied with the Saints, with one remaining matchup between the two teams later this season. In addition, a Giants win does not really put them in the picture yet as they are 2-8, and even if they enter the picture, the Saints have a chance to play them later as well and take back the momentum.

Carolina Panthers Vs. Kansas City Chiefs:

This game is not exceptionally a major issue either way, but obviously a Kansas City Chiefs win would help keep the Carolina Panthers at the bottom of the division and away from the Saints for another week. This would be the preferable outcome, despite many not being fond of the Chiefs.

This covers a divisional route for the Saints, as a wild card appearance is very unlikely at the moment given the bottom seed right now would be the Washington Commanders at 7-4. A monumental collapse from either them or the 7-3 Green Bay Packers would make things easier, but it would still be a difficult hill to climb. For a potential wild card appearance, here is the preferred outcomes:

Chicago Bears beat Minnesota Vikings

There desperately needs to be more parity in the NFC North for this scenario, and with the Minnesota Vikings holding the top wild card spot, a Chicago Bears win would help despite them also being ahead of the Saints here. The ultimate goal is dragging the wild card teams down close enough to where, if the Saints go on a win streak, a spot is attainable.

Dallas Cowboys Beat Washington Commanders

This is a similar notion to the previous game, where the Washington Commanders are the last wild card team right now, and a loss would bring them even closer to the Saints. With the Dallas Cowboys already being beaten by the Saints, they are not a threat if they are tied which they would be in this scenario. While this is certainly an unlikely outcome, it would definitely be preferred for the Cowboys to win in this matchup for the sake of a Saints playoff push.

San Francisco 49ers Beat Green Bay Packers

This matchup is a little different, as both the 5-5 San Francisco 49ers and 7-3 Green Bay Packers remain ahead of the Saints at the time being, and both have a full game lead at least. However, more parity between those teams and none pulling away leaves the Saints with a great opportunity if they continue to win. So, with a 49ers win, they would be 6-5 and the Packers would be 7-4, rather than 5-6 and 8-3 respectively.

Arizona Cardinals Beat Seattle Seahawks

This is where things get wonky, as the Arizona Cardinals lead their division, so the preferred outcome is a Seattle Seahawks loss to prevent them from competing for a wild card spot as they sit at 5-5. This game going either way is not extremely detrimental which is good, as they would just swap places if Seattle won, but Seattle losing would help just a tiny bit more given the game difference between the two.

Philadelphia Eagles Beat Los Angeles Rams

Further to that point, the Los Angeles Rams losing would help keep them lower and allow the Saints to surpass them as soon as Week 13, as a win would put the Saints at 5-7 and the Rams at 5-7, with the Saints’ head-to-head tiebreaker taking effect. Additionally, the Philadelphia Eagles winning is not particularly a big issue as they remain atop the division, and that would keep the Commanders out of division lead contention for another week at least. Somewhat of a win win here if the Rams lose.

In the case of improved draft stock

Now the case of trying to get closer to a better draft pick. There are nine teams ahead of the Saints with better picks, and two of them are also on bye in the Jacksonville Jaguars (No.1 pick currently) and the New York Jets (No.6 pick currently) so they will remain ahead regardless. As for the other teams, here is there games and the optimal outcomes:

Tennessee Titans beat Houston Texans

First up, the Tennessee Titans, who sit at 2-8 with one of the higher strength of schedule numbers of the bad teams at .514. They take on the Houston Texans, and while a Titans win does not immediately change where the Saints stand, it would prove to be a big one down the stretch if the Saints go the other direction and start losing more. This would keep things closer at the top (or the bottom perse) and keep the Saints within a game of taking their spot.

New york Giants Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Not only would this be pretty funny from the standpoint of a division rival losing to a 2-8 New York Giants team, but it would help in the case of draft stock. This is similar to the Titans, where a Giants win does not immediately move the Saints to a better pick, but it keeps things close enough until the Saints get back to playing, rather than the Giants running away with a higher pick. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers going to 4-7 would be difficult, however the Saints have the tiebreaker for now in terms of a higher pick as they lost to Tampa earlier in the year, and have a lower strength of schedule.

Las Vegas Raiders beat Denver Broncos

Another 2-8 team, another scenario that falls into the same category. A Las Vegas Raiders win helps keep things within a game at the top, and a Denver Broncos loss does not particularly hurt the Saints chances whatsoever, so this one is completely self-explanatory.

New England Patriots beat miami dolphins

This one is a little bit closer in terms of who should win, as the New England Patriots are at 3-8 and the Miami Dolphins are at 4-6. The Dolphins losing brings them to an equal record with the Saints, and since they have a lower strength of schedule, they would get the higher pick in a tiebreaker. However, they also have an easier strength of schedule than the Patriots as well, meaning they are more likely to win another game or two than New England is. With that said, a Patriots win is slightly better here, but either way is perfectly fine.

Carolina panthers beat kansas city chiefs

While in the competitive version we wanted the Panthers to lose here, a win would help the Saints as it would bring them to even in terms of record, and since they have identical strength of schedules, it would go down to conference and division records which the Saints could pull away in by losing pretty often to close the season.

dallas cowboys beat washington commanders

Finally, we have a situation that transcends the type of team you want to see, and ultimately is a win win. The Dallas Cowboys winning here would bring them to even with the Saints at 4-7, and with the Cowboys having a .525 strength of schedule to the Saints only .486, New Orleans would get the tiebreaker for a better pick. Overall, a win win with a Cowboys victory.

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Craig Carton apologizes to Broncos for harsh preseason prediction

“Broncos Country, I apologize,” Craig Carton said. “I was wrong. I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Before the 2024 NFL season began, Craig Carton of Fox Sports shared a harsh prediction for the Denver Broncos.

“The Broncos are going to stink,” Carton said in August. “There’s no talent on that team … I’m looking at the Denver Broncos going, that over/under should be 2.5! Where are the wins coming from?”

Denver’s actual over/under line was 5.5 wins, and the Broncos beat that when they secured their sixth win of the season in Week 11. After the team hit the over, Carton apologized for his pre-season prediction.

“I would like to take this moment to apologize to Denver Broncos fans,” Cartons said on Breakfast Ball earlier this week. “About two months ago, we were giving our preseason predictions and I may have uttered the phrase, ‘The Broncos stink, the over/under should be 2.5.’ So to Broncos Country, I apologize. I was wrong. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The Denver Broncos are a very well-coached team … I’ll eat this one, I got it wrong.”

If the season ended today, the Broncos would make the NFL playoffs as the sixth and final seed. Denver has six games remaining this season.

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Saints’ playoff chances remain slim entering the bye week

The Saints have won back-to-back games and made ground in the NFC South title race, but their playoff probability still remains beneath 5%:

A path for the New Orleans Saints to the playoffs has come into clearer view but it hasn’t become more likely.

Next Gen Stats is used by NFL.com to project playoff probability. It gives current probability and what changes with a win or a loss this week. Because New Orleans is currently on their bye week, they have no opportunity to improve or lessen their 4% chance at making the playoffs.

Darren Rizzi has led the Saints in consecutive wins, and he’d likely punch his ticket as the team’s long-term head coach if he beats those odds.

Why is it in the single digits? The Atlanta Falcons have a 72% chance at making the playoffs. Seeing that neither team have a record good enough to be a wild card team, a percentage that high would suggest belief in Atlanta to win the division.

The Saints’ path to the playoffs is through the division. Despite making ground on Atlanta and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the analytics say completing the comeback isn’t likely.

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Darren Rizzi has an opportunity to definitively succeed where Dennis Allen failed

The Saints and Rams met last year with the season in the balance, and Dennis Allen failed that test. A rematch is coming up after the bye. Can Darren Rizzi pass it?

Darren Rizzi has an opportunity to definitively succeed where Dennis Allen failed after replacing the former New Orleans Saints head coach. He’s arguably already done that by ending the seven-week losing streak that cost Allen his job and winning back-to-back games. But their next matchup may tell the real story.

The Saints and Los Angeles Rams met last year with the season in the balance, and Allen failed that test. That loss in L.A. put the Saints so far out of the playoff picture that the remaining games were all for naught. A rematch is coming up after the bye, and we’re in a similar situation. Can Rizzi pass this test?

Maybe so. The Rams aren’t the juggernaut they once were, stuck at 5-5 while going back-and-forth in the win-loss column, but they are a hurdle the Saints must overcome to reach the playoffs this year. If the Rams lose to the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday night, they’ll take the field next week ahead of New Orleans by a single win. Knocking them off and winning three in a row would be a heck of an achievement.

And if nothing else, it would be symbolic. Allen struggled to coach the Saints up when they drew an opponent with a backbone, and that loss to the Rams felt like an indictment for him. With such a big impact on the team’s playoff odds at stake, he wilted. If Rizzi can rise to that challenge it’ll say a lot about where he has this team trending and where he could take them. And he’s got time on his side with the bye week buying a few more days to prepare for it.

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Former Saints QB coached his first HS playoff win, but hints at NFL return

Teddy Bridgewater might not be done in the NFL just yet. He won his first high school playoff game as a coach, but says he ‘can’t wait’ to return to the pros:

Teddy Bridgewater might not be done in the NFL just yet. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback retired earlier this year to take the job as high school football coach at his Miami Northwestern alma mater, and last week he led the Bulls to their first playoff win, 69-0 over Barron Collier. Now they’re set to host Levy high school for an opportunity to advance to the state semifinals in 3A competition.

But on Tuesday, Bridgewater suggested he could go back to the pros. Bridgewater tweeted:

“So many QB jobs available for me after we make this state title run. I can’t wait to return back to the NFL.”

While he’s thrived in reviving his high school program and spoken often about enjoying the opportunity to make a difference in his hometown, Bridgewater has expressed frustration on the drama and politicking surrounding the job. As part of a longer message, he previously wrote on his personal Facebook page that:

“Now we have grown men telling on KIDS!! Jeopardizing their future and their team’s future. As a man, what do you get out of that?? I pray MNW stays in the clear from all that’s going on because like I tell my coaches, I played 10 years in the league and never made any headlines and I’ll be damned if I let MNW have me caught up in some mess. I know it’s people waiting on the day it happens”

That’s a pretty strong condemnation. One of Miami Northwestern’s rivals vacated their season after an investigation revealed they had rostered an ineligible player, and situations like that clearly aren’t appealing to someone with other options like Bridgewater. We’ll see how things shake out in the weeks and months ahead, but a return to the NFL shouldn’t be ruled out. It’s clearly on his mind.

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