Home Field Advantage: Playoffs

[cdumler7]

Well @randymon here you go


1977--We had home field for both playoff games to advance to the Super Bowl

1986--We had 1 home game and then the crazy game @Cleveland to advance to the Super Bowl

1987--We had home games for both games having the 1 seed

1989--Again we had the 1 seed and both games @Milehigh

1997--We had 1 home game and 2 road games to then win the Super Bowl

1998--Home games throughout

2013--Home games for both

So only twice in our history have we been able to advance without having the #1 seed to the Super Bowl.

Now I do think this team would do just fine traveling if they have to as they always say defense travels it definitely in my mind helps to have home field if at all possible.

 

[nflbronco]

Yea, the at Pitt will be even tougher than Bengals here IMO.

Agree that game will be tough. Plus weather factor

 

[cdumler7]

Agree that game will be tough. Plus weather factor

Thankfully we do have the type of team that can travel at this point in the year with bad weather moving in. If we can run the football against Pitt then we stand a decent chance. I don't think 10 points by our offense will be enough against Pitt. If we want to stand a chance we are going to have to put the ball in Osweiler's hands a bit more and see what he can do.

 

[iknowftbll]

Looking at the ESPN playoff simulator, I was surprised to see there are still scenarios that have the Broncos out of the playoffs, even with an 11-5 finish. Now I consider these scenarios highly unlikely, because I consider a 1-3 finish for the Broncos highly unlikely. But even if the Broncos skid to a 1-3 finish, it'll take the Jets, Chiefs and Steelers (all 7-5 as of now) winning out. I think the Chiefs have a shot of winning out. The Steelers and Jets both have some stout competition ahead, so all three of these teams winning out AND the Broncos skidding to a 1-3 finish is a pretty low probability.


Conversely the Broncos clinch the AFC West with a win and a Chiefs loss, and a playoff spot with a win and a Jets loss.


This is an exciting time of year. I know we want to see the team finish 14-2 and earn home field advantage, but job number 1 is get into the playoffs. They take a big step toward that goal by beating the hated Raiders this week.

 

[WalkerBoh]

I constructed a believable scenario that has Denver finishing 3-1 and claiming home field advantage. And a plausible one that has us winning Home Field with a 12-4 record.

 

[randymon]

Thankfully we do have the type of team that can travel at this point in the year with bad weather moving in. If we can run the football against Pitt then we stand a decent chance. I don't think 10 points by our offense will be enough against Pitt. If we want to stand a chance we are going to have to put the ball in Osweiler's hands a bit more and see what he can do.

Denver will definitely have to air it out more vs Pitt. To many weapons on O and DeAngelo scares me as wr out of backfield in this one. Cincy, besides the home field advantage,doesn't worry me as much if they take Green out of equation. I can see Pitt as a problem especially if secondary is still hurting.

 

[randymon]

Well @randymon here you go


1977--We had home field for both playoff games to advance to the Super Bowl

1986--We had 1 home game and then the crazy game @Cleveland to advance to the Super Bowl

1987--We had home games for both games having the 1 seed

1989--Again we had the 1 seed and both games @Milehigh

1997--We had 1 home game and 2 road games to then win the Super Bowl

1998--Home games throughout

2013--Home games for both

So only twice in our history have we been able to advance without having the #1 seed to the Super Bowl.

Now I do think this team would do just fine traveling if they have to as they always say defense travels it definitely in my mind helps to have home field if at all possible.

So only once did we win SB with home field through out....in 7 trips.

 

[cdumler7]

So only once did we win SB with home field through out....in 7 trips.

You could say the same thing about only winning it once when we didn't have home field. The trend I see there though is that 5 of the 7 times that we went to the Super Bowl it took home field to get there. Have to remember the Super Bowl is not a home game. It is a set location. So the home games we won and the neutral field one we didn't.

 

[iknowftbll]

The league saw a trend of lower seeded teams knocking off higher seeded teams for several years. I believe that changed in 2013 when the Broncos and Seahawks, both #1 seeds, reached the Super Bowl. Last year was the same: the Patriots and Seahawks were both #1 seeds. Now I don't think this trend automatically means a team has to have the #1 seed. It's all about executing. And if the Broncos end up as the #2 seed or even the #3 seed I won't count them out. But I really am hoping to see them earn that #1 seed. I think this team would be a far more formidable foe at home than any of the previous Broncos teams. This defense would make things very difficult for opponents. Plus the crowd noise, which plays into a strong defense far more than a strong offense. This team has some serious potential at home in the playoffs. This Broncos team is special.

 

[randymon]

You could say the same thing about only winning it once when we didn't have home field. The trend I see there though is that 5 of the 7 times that we went to the Super Bowl it took home field to get there. Have to remember the Super Bowl is not a home game. It is a set location. So the home games we won and the neutral field one we didn't.

Really? The SB is not a home game? Actually a SB would be a home game for SF if hey would of made it this year

 

[xBxtxDx]

As long as we do not finish the season out at 13-3 I will be okay. Bad things always happen when we finish 13-3, just say no to 13-3!!!

 

[cdumler7]

Really? The SB is not a home game? Actually a SB would be a home game for SF if hey would of made it this year

Just pointing out that the home games we had in those seasons that we went to the Super Bowl we won. Can't really count the losses in the Super Bowl because they are not home games. So to me we are seeing a trend that home field can be a huge advantage for our chances at advancing to the Super Bowl. I would throw in this is a completely different team than what we have had for the past few years. We have a new coaching staff that has proven to get this team ready for big games. We also have a better game plan with the development of the run game and a very strong defense. That seems to be what does well in the playoffs.