8. Denver Broncos

Current record: 3-7
2019 record vs. winning teams: 0-5
Number of upcoming winning opponents: 4

It’s been a frustrating season for Vic Fangio in his first year as Denver’s head coach. The misbegotten deal with Joe Flacco, and the subsequent adaptation to Brandon Allen, has left the 3-7 Broncos in an offensive pickle that’s been tough to recover from. Denver currently ranks 26th in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted passing metrics, and it’s been tough for running back Phillip Lindsay and a game defense to overcome those quarterback issues. If that sounds like every Broncos season since Peyton Manning’s retirement, that’s not inaccurate.

That said, Fangio’s team has been more and more competitive as the season has gone along, with a close loss to the Colts, a win over the Browns, and a nail-biting loss to the Vikings last Sunday in which Fangio’s defense shut Kirk Cousins down in the first half before the dam burst. Denver has Buffalo, Houston, Kansas City, and Oakland among its remaining opponents, and if Allen is able to help create a credible passing game, Denver could be a tough out every week through the rest of the season.

7. New York Jets

Current record: 3-7
2019 record vs. winning teams: 0-4
Number of upcoming winning opponents: 3

It’s not that the Jets would have been a playoff contender with Sam Darnold on the field all season — when he wasn’t recovering from mononucleosis, Darnold presided over three wins and four losses. But Gang Green is on a bit of a hot streak, beating the Giants and Redskins in their last two games. There are too many roster holes for this team to be taken seriously in a contending sense, but Darnold is developing well, and safety Jamal Adams is playing at a torrid pace as both a blitzer and a coverage man.

The Jets have the Bills this Sunday, and they beat their division rival 17-16 in Week 1. They also have the Raiders and Ravens in the final six weeks of the season.