Tag: Playoffs

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

DVOA gives the Broncos a 66.8% chance of making the NFL playoffs this season.

Following a big win over the Atlanta Falcons (6-5) on Sunday, the Denver Broncos (6-5) remain in position to make the NFL playoffs in 2024.

The Broncos seem unlikely to catch the Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) in the AFC West, but securing one of the AFC’s three Wild Card seeds is within reach.

If the season ended today, Denver would make the playoffs as the conference’s seventh and final seed. Here’s a look at the standings following Week 11.

AFC Playoff Picture

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

The Broncos will have to fend off the Indianapolis Colts (5-6) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) to reach the postseason. Denver will host Indy (Week 15) and travel to Cincinnati (Week 17) later this season.

So, what are the Broncos’ chances of pulling it off?

The Athletic gives Denver a 49% chance of reaching the postseason. ESPN is slightly more optimistic with a 51% chance. DVOA has the most optimistic outlook, giving the Broncos a 66.8% chance to reach the playoffs.

Up next for Denver is a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-8), followed by a home game against the Cleveland Browns (2-8). After that, the Broncos will have a bye ahead of the final four games of the season.

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

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

The Chargers beat the Bengals on Sunday, picking up their fourth consecutive victory. They improved to 7-3, and their chances of playing beyond the regular season.

According to NFL.com, Los Angeles has a 91% chance of making the playoffs. With the Bolts’ win and the Ravens’ loss to the Steelers on Sunday, L.A. moved up to the fifth seed.

Here’s a look at the division standings entering Week 12:

1. Chiefs (9-1)

2. Chargers (7-3)

3. Broncos (6-5)

4. Raiders (2-8)

And a look at the playoff picture:

*There are (7) available Playoff spots

1. Chiefs (9-1)

2. Bills (9-2)

3. Steelers (8-2)

4. Texans (6-4)

5. Chargers (7-3)

6. Ravens (7-4)

7. Broncos (6-5)

8. Colts (5-6)

9. Dolphins (4-6)

10. Bengals (4-7)

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

Terry McLaurin challenges Commanders after second straight loss

Terry McLaurin doing what great leaders do.

This is a different Washington Commanders team. Don’t let a recent two-game losing streak fool you. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin has seen it all in six years and knows things are different.

That’s why, after Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, McLaurin wanted to see the team’s “brotherhood” respond to adversity the way it has to success.

“I think it’s easy to preach brotherhood when everything’s going good, when you’re winning and having a good time and things like that,” McLaurin said after Thursday’s game.

“So, this is when kind of those…..what your program is built on, this is when it needs to stand out. So, you know, we hang our hat on our brotherhood and this is definitely the time that we need to stand up for that.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

Since taking over, head coach Dan Quinn has preached brotherhood. It’s not a motto for Quinn; he believes in it, he teaches it, and players love and respect him for it. The Commanders began the season with lots of smiles and little adversity.

That changed after two consecutive losses, moving Washington into second place in the NFC East. How will the Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels respond?

In moments like this, we learn more about a team than when they are succeeding. The Commanders face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12 and are heavy favorites.

Updated playoff and division title odds for the Vikings

Here are the chances the Vikings get to the playoffs and make it to the Super Bowl.

The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a 12-7 win over the Jaguars last Sunday. The win moved the Vikings to 7-2 on the season. While plenty of football is still to be played, Minnesota is in a good spot nine games into the year.

According to ESPN’s latest playoff picture, the Vikings have an 89% chance of making the playoffs. But with the Lions leading the NFC, winning the NFC North won’t be so easy. According to the odds, Minnesota currently has just a 12% chance of winning the North over Detroit.

With not having great odds to win the division, ESPN gives the Vikings an 8% chance of earning a bye. However, Minnesota does have a 9% chance of getting to the Super Bowl.

The Lions have the greatest chance of making it to the Super Bowl with a 33% chance. The Eagles are next with a 16% chance, followed by Green Bay with a 10% chance. ESPN has Washington tied with the Vikings with a 9% chance of getting to the big game.

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 can still make the NFL playoffs in 2024

With upcoming games against the Colts (home) and Bengals (away), the Broncos control their playoff fate.

Not that it was likely even before the game, but the Denver Broncos‘ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday made it very hard for the Broncos to attempt to win the AFC West in 2024.

The Chiefs are now 9-0 and Denver (5-5) is also behind the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3). Only the lowly Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) are ranked lower in the division going into Week 11.

While an AFC West title is very unlikely, the Broncos still have a legitimate chance to reach the NFL playoffs as a Wild Card team. If the season ended today, Denver would make the postseason as the AFC’s seventh and final seed. Here’s a look at how the conference shakes up after Week 10.

AFC playoff picture

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)
  2. Buffalo Bills (8-2)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)
  4. Houston Texans (6-4)
  5. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
  7. Denver Broncos (5-5)

The Broncos are just above the Indianapolis Colts (4-6) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-6). Denver will play both the Colts (home) and Bengals (away) later this season, so the team controls its playoff fate.

Can they do it?

The Athletic gives the Broncos a 33% chance to reach the postseason, projecting Denver to finish with a 9-8 record.

ESPN gives the Broncos a 32% chance to reach the postseason (they have the Bengals above them with a 37% chance).

The Indianapolis and Cincinnati games will have huge playoff implications for Denver, but first things first, the next order of business is a home game against the NFC’s Atlanta Falcons (6-4) in Week 11.

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5 takeaways from the Broncos’ 16-14 loss to Chiefs in Week 10

The sky is not falling. Here are five quick takeaways from the Broncos’ loss to the Chiefs on Sunday.

The Denver Broncos fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 16-14 on Sunday after their last-second field goal attempt was blocked. Here are five quick takeaways from the loss.

1. Audric Estime in, Javonte Williams out: Hopefully fantasy football managers listened when coach Sean Payton hinted last week that Estime would be more involved in the second half of the season. Estime dominated the team’s backfield on Sunday with 14 carries for 53 yards. Jaleel McLaughlin mixed in with two carries for 12 yards and even wide receiver Marvin Mims got three carries for 17 yards. Williams only received one carry (for one yard) and just two targets as a receiver out of the backfield. Estime might be the new RB1 going forward.

2. Bad officiating did not cost Denver the game: Yes, there were some questionable calls on Sunday, but the Broncos can’t blame the officials for the loss (more on that in a moment). KC’s formation on the field goal block was legal, and Denver squandered opportunities to win the game in the second half. Blame for the loss falls on the Broncos, not the referee.

3. Denver’s offense disappeared in the second half: After taking a 14-10 lead into halftime, the Broncos’ offense proved to be mostly ineffective until the final drive of the game. Denver’s defense continued to hold up, allowing just two field goals, but the offense didn’t do its part.

4. Alex Forsyth cost the Broncos the game: Listen, this is not a green light to harass players on social media, which is never acceptable. But there’s accountability in professional sports, and players are spotlighted for mistakes (in a professional manner). The Chiefs identified Forsyth as a weak link on kicks earlier in the game, noting that he was too light on his toes and susceptible to a bull rush. KC exploited that on the final play of the game and drove Forsyth back to block the field goal attempt. Forsyth accepted blame after the game, and he’ll probably never make that mistake again.

5. Denver is oh-so-close: After the game, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix said, “I feel like we’re right there, just have to get over that hump.” He’s right. The good news is that Denver just went toe-to-toe with the NFL’s only remaining undefeated team, the defending Super Bowl champions. The bad news is that the Broncos weren’t able to complete the game. “It really played out exactly how we wanted it to, like exactly with the ball, the clock, in complete control of everything,” Payton said. “We just couldn’t finish it.” If the Broncos get over the hump that Nix referenced, they will be a legitimate playoff contender this fall. And they’ll see KC again when the Chiefs visit Empower Field at Mile High in Week 18. Denver was knocked down on Sunday, but the Broncos weren’t knocked out. There’s a lot of football left to play.

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Where do Packers stand in NFC North and playoff race entering bye week?

The Packers are 6-3 entering the bye. Where do they stand in the NFC North and NFC playoff race?

The Green Bay Packers are entering the bye week with a 6-3 record after losing 24-14 to the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Matt LaFleur’s team is currently in possession of a playoff spot in the NFC ahead of Week 10, but the Packers have plenty of work to do against a tough schedule during the second half of the season.

If the season ended today, the Packers would be the No. 7 seed in the NFC and face the NFC East-leading Washington Commanders on the road in the NFC Wild Card Round.

Here’s a quick look at the standings entering the bye week:

NFC playoff standings

1. Detroit Lions (7-1)
2. Washington Commanders (7-2)
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
4. Arizona Cardinals (5-4)
5. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
7. Green Bay Packers (6-3)

Other contenders: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4), Chicago Bears (4-4), Los Angeles Rams (4-4), San Francisco 49ers (4-4), Seattle Seahawks (4-5)

The Packers have already lost to three teams ahead of them in the NFC playoff race and are 2-3 overall against the conference, complicating the path up the standings. But LaFleur’s team does still have road playoff games against the Lions and Vikings — and last year’s team won in both Detroit and Minneapolis. Unless the Packers can catch fire and hunt down the Lions, a road playoff game in the wildcard round looks like the most likely entry into the postseason.

NFC North standings

1. Detroit Lions (7-1 overall, 2-0 vs. division)
2. Minnesota Vikings (6-2 overall, 1-1 vs. division)
3. Green Bay Packers (6-3 overall, 0-2 vs. division)
4. Chicago Bears (4-4 overall, 0-0 vs. division)

There’s a lot of football left to be played in the NFC North this season. Only six of the 24 total matchups between division rivals have been played through Week 9. The Packers have dug themselves a decent hole, especially considering the two division losses both came at home against the top contenders. LaFleur’s team will go on the road to play the Bears in the first game coming out of the bye on Nov. 17 and has a rematch with the Lions in Detroit on Dec. 5. Can the Lions be caught in the standings?

Packers remaining schedule

Week 11: at Chicago Bears (4-4)
Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
Week 13: vs. Miami Dolphins (2-6)
Week 14: at Detroit Lions (7-1)
Week 15: at Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
Week 16: vs. New Orleans Saints (2-7)
Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
Week 18: vs. Chicago Bears (4-4)

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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