Playoff Scenarios

[WalkerBoh]

Yes, Denver has some playoff scenarios coming up in the next couple weeks. Lets take a look:

Week 15: Denver can clinch the AFC West with a victory or a tie against San Diego. Time to shut toe door on the AFC West.

Beyond: Denver can clinch a 1st round bye with wins in week 15 and week 16. Those are the only scenarios where Denver controls it's destiny. After that, Denver needs to win out and hope NE drops a game against Jets, Bills, or Dolphins for us to have a chance at home field advantage.

 

[cdumler7]

Couple of tough games in a row here on the road for us. At this point I am just excited that it looks like we are going to the playoffs again. The #1 seed hasn't done too well for us lately so maybe not being the top team will be a nice advantage. Not all the pressure that comes with being that top seed. I mean we did win our first Super Bowl playing in the Wild Card. I would still rather at least get one of the 1st 2 seeds obviously to get the extra week of rest but I do think with this new found run game we would be just fine marching into Foxboro and giving them a run for their money.


Also don't forget who comes back this week! Danny Trevathan you have been missed!


Always love this time of year and no bigger moment in our season than this upcoming week. Chance to clinch on the road against a big time division opponent. Let's see this team respond to that kind of pressure. Every game this late in the year begins feeling like the playoffs for teams.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Playing with ESPN's Playoff Machine, I can find only one scenario that can keep us out of the playoffs altogether. It looks like if Cleveland beats Cincy in week 15, Denver would clinch at least a wildcard spot. Not confirmed yet.....

 

[cdumler7]

It would definitely take quite a bit for us to not make the playoffs. We definitely have a couple of tough road tests here these next two weeks but that should do well for us heading into the playoffs. That is one thing about this season compared to the last 2 is this team will be battle tested before we get into the playoffs. We will have truly earned our record this year.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I feel certain that we will make the playoffs, but it's very unclear who or where we might play. Winning our last three obviously gives us the best chance for the most favorable playoff matchups, but that won't be easy.

Really hope that we clinch the division at SD this week. Watching NE at SD made me wonder how our new found run game fares against them next week. After giving up a few yards to Blount on the opening series last night, SD really shut down the Pats run game.

That game also made me think that our defense, which has played pretty well since the second half against Miami, will also need to continue playing well, since I thought that the Pats defense in the second half is what finally did SD in last night.

 

[MileHigh64]

My guess is that we lose one of the road games at SD or Cincinnati and finish at 12-4 with a home victory over the Raiders. At least we won't have the 13-3 curse record going into the playoffs again! I don't see New England losing another game, so it's a good chance we will be playing in Foxboro if the Broncos make it to the AFCCG.

First up though, is a chance to win the division next week and take some of the pressure off of the team. That could also allow some of the players that are dealing with injuries to be rested a bit. I think all of the Broncos fans on this board are pretty happy that we've transitioned our running attack. However, our passing game has slipped during the process. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Broncos try to light up the Chargers in the first half with our passing game (with Julius back in the line up) and then pound it on the ground in the 2nd half if we get a lead. The Broncos need to have power and precision both to be a truly balanced football team.

Our defense is much improved and if they can clean up the garbage points and yards at the end of the game, they can be one of the best defenses in the business this year.

Let's get this win in San Diego. Go Broncos!

MH64

 

[iknowftbll]

My pick for the season was 12-4. It is with some amusement I agree about 13-3, but this stuff sorts itself out. Realistically the 13-3 record doesn't even mean the #1 seed unless the Pats drop one of their remaining games. I'd hate to see that happen and the Broncos fail to capitalize on it. Plus week in, week out I never want to see the Broncos lose.

The most important thing to do is to beat the Chargers and clinch the AFC West for the FOURTH consecutive year. This also puts a major blow in the Chargers playoff chances. The loss would drop them to 8-6 with a tough game in Kansas City remaining. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Chiefs and Chargers both finish 9-7 and out of the playoffs. I'd love to see that, in fact.

 

[cdumler7]

The more I look at the playoffs the more I just don't see either the Chargers or Chiefs making it this year. They both have dropped some games that they should have won and in the end they just have too tough of a schedule to close out the season. I see the AFC North getting 3 teams in this year which is a bit unfair considering they had the NFC and AFC South for their out of division opponents. Doesn't get much easier than that.

 

[NEhomer]

You guys are gonna lose all of your remaining games!

 

[randymon]

You guys are gonna lose all of your remaining games!

I hope you dislocated your shoulder hoisting that monster striper (I think)

 

[WalkerBoh]

You guys are gonna lose all of your remaining games!

You have a better chance of losing that fish.....

 

[Malibu]

Yes, Denver has some playoff scenarios coming up in the next couple weeks. Lets take a look:

Week 15: Denver can clinch the AFC West with a victory or a tie against San Diego. Time to shut toe door on the AFC West.

Beyond: Denver can clinch a 1st round bye with wins in week 15 and week 16. Those are the only scenarios where Denver controls it's destiny. After that, Denver needs to win out and hope NE drops a game against Jets, Bills, or Dolphins for us to have a chance at home field advantage.

Just keep winning games and it will all fall in to place.

 

[cdumler7]

So right now our playoff chances are actually at 99.99%. Right now the only way we miss the playoffs is if first off we lose the next 3 games. San Diego then has to win the next 3 games to win the division. They tie with us and we still win the division record wise. Broncos also if they go 10-6 have tie breakers over Baltimore, Miami, and Pittsburgh. So that would mean that Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and San Diego all have to finish 3-0 with the Broncos losing all of theirs for us to miss the playoffs. We actually have the highest odds of making the playoffs of any team in the NFL even better than that of New England.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Here's a more "official" update. Apparently we CAN clinch a 1st round bye with a bit of help this week:


DENVER can clinch the AFC West with:
1) DEN win or tie


DENVER can clinch a first-round bye:
1) DEN win + IND loss + CIN loss + PIT loss or tie


DENVER can clinch a playoff spot:
1) MIA loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + CIN loss + PIT loss
2) MIA loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + BAL loss + CLE loss or tie
3) MIA loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT win

 

[cdumler7]

Indy losing is the one I don't see happening for us to clench a 1st round bye unfortunately. They are too good at home and Houston seems to only beat the bottom feeders.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Updates for week 16:


Denver can clinch a first-round bye with:
1) DEN win
2) DEN tie + IND loss or tie


Looks like the #1 seed could come down to the final weekend, unless we lose this week and New England wins. However, if New England wins out, then our game against Oakland will become meaningless if we beat the Bengals. (Possible extended Osweiler sighting?)

 

[cdumler7]

Updates for week 16:


Denver can clinch a first-round bye with:
1) DEN win
2) DEN tie + IND loss or tie


Looks like the #1 seed could come down to the final weekend, unless we lose this week and New England wins. However, if New England wins out, then our game against Oakland will become meaningless if we beat the Bengals. (Possible extended Osweiler sighting?)

I would be torn on the idea of not seeing the starters in week 17. Let's say we clinch the bye week this week against Cincinnati and then see NE win in week 16 and 17 knowing we can't pass them. My biggest concern is the idea that these guys with 2 weeks off instead of just the one could come out a bit rusty in the Divisional Round. At the same time this team is banged up big time and some of these guys could use a couple of weeks of rest to get ready for the playoffs. So again torn on the idea. I would love to see Osweiler with a full week of preparation though and see what he can do in a game. Although he would be playing with all our back ups against starters and not sure I like the idea of losing to the Raiders possibly even if it is more of a preseason type feel game to it.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

The more I look at the playoffs the more I just don't see either the Chargers or Chiefs making it this year. They both have dropped some games that they should have won and in the end they just have too tough of a schedule to close out the season. I see the AFC North getting 3 teams in this year which is a bit unfair considering they had the NFC and AFC South for their out of division opponents. Doesn't get much easier than that.

Still have to win the games...I think how you're playing late is really what determines your fate in JAN...the Chargers quality wins...SEA early and @BAL late, none of the rest are noteworthy...on the flip they have a real bad loss to MIA, and also loss to OAK. If BAL edges them out...they can look back at those to bad losses.

Pretty much the same for KC... they have 2 really good wins, but also loss to OAK...they still control their destiny to a degree since they play PIT.

 

[cdumler7]

Still have to win the games...I think how you're playing late is really what determines your fate in JAN...the Chargers quality wins...SEA early and @BAL late, none of the rest are noteworthy...on the flip they have a real bad loss to MIA, and also loss to OAK. If BAL edges them out...they can look back at those to bad losses.

Pretty much the same for KC... they have 2 really good wins, but also loss to OAK...they still control their destiny to a degree since they play PIT.

Oh I agree San Diego and KC have shot themselves in the foot (by the way San Diego hasn't lost to Oakland just KC). Both of those teams had their chances to make things easier here at the end of the season and didn't take advantage of it. Those bad losses are why I think the AFC North gets 3 teams into the playoffs. They have won the games they needed to so far.

I will say Pittsburgh might be the team that scares me the most come playoff time other than the Pats of course. They look like a team that could get hot at the right time.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Oh I agree San Diego and KC have shot themselves in the foot (by the way San Diego hasn't lost to Oakland just KC). Both of those teams had their chances to make things easier here at the end of the season and didn't take advantage of it. Those bad losses are why I think the AFC North gets 3 teams into the playoffs. They have won the games they needed to so far.

I will say Pittsburgh might be the team that scares me the most come playoff time other than the Pats of course. They look like a team that could get hot at the right time.

PIT...I'm not real positive about beating KC really...they've got to block the edge rushers...if they can do that I think they will win and they will beat CIN @ home and win the DIV....I think I heard a win over KC clinches at least a WC spot the playoffs for the Steelers....if they win out and IND wins out, they will be the 4th seed.

imo they can do a bit of damage if they make it. I can see them winning the 4 vs 6 game or the 3 vs 5 game at home, but I don't trust them on the road in DEN or NE...the DEF would have to play over their regular season level

CIN...I think they lose the last 2 and are scoreboard watching @ 9-6-1 to back in

BAL...I think the Ravens win out and get a 5th seed if they don't win the DIV.