Week 15 AFC Playoff Scenarios

[WalkerBoh]

BRONCOS:

1) Can Clinch the AFC West title with a win and a Kansas City Loss
2) Can Clinch a 1st round bye with a win, a KC loss, and a Cincy loss

PATRIOTS:

1) Can clinch the AFC East with a win or a Miami loss

CHIEFS:
1) Can Clinch a playoff berth with a win or a Ravens loss and a Miami loss

BENGALS:
1) Can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a Miami loss
2) Can Clinch AFC North with a win and a Baltimore loss

 

[cdumler7]

Does Cincinnati have the tie breaker over us say we were to lose 2 of our final 3 games and they went undefeated?


Quick question while we are somewhat on the topic...I had a fellow Bronco fan earlier this week that I was talking to wishing that the Broncos wouldn't get the bye week as it messes with their rhythm. I told him he was crazy for thinking such a thing considering we are the walking wounded and it seems like we have more starters on the injured list than not on it every week so that extra week to heal up would be huge. Anybody else in the same boat as my friend that they would rather the Broncos not get a bye week as to not slow down any momentum?

 

[iknowftbll]

CD, I've heard so many people talk about #1 seeds going down in flames as if it is a certainty. True that it has happened a lot in revert years. But what is a team supposed to do: quit winning so they don't get that bye? Tank the rest of the way and let the Chiefs catch/pass us? All those previous teams that got upset at home have no bearing on what happens ahead. Just because it's a trend doesn't mean the outcome is pre-determined.

As for the bengals, I beleive they would have the tie breaker over us in that scenario, but it would probably depend on what game the Brincos won. I believe the tie breaker would be common opponents, and they have wins over the Colts and Pats, the only two teams to beat the Broncos so far. And of course, if they finish with the same record as the Pats, they move up to the #2 seed by virtue of their win over the Pats.

 

[cdumler7]

CD, I've heard so many people talk about #1 seeds going down in flames as if it is a certainty. True that it has happened a lot in revert years. But what is a team supposed to do: quit winning so they don't get that bye? Tank the rest of the way and let the Chiefs catch/pass us? All those previous teams that got upset at home have no bearing on what happens ahead. Just because it's a trend doesn't mean the outcome is pre-determined.

As for the bengals, I beleive they would have the tie breaker over us in that scenario, but it would probably depend on what game the Brincos won. I believe the tie breaker would be common opponents, and they have wins over the Colts and Pats, the only two teams to beat the Broncos so far. And of course, if they finish with the same record as the Pats, they move up to the #2 seed by virtue of their win over the Pats.

Oh I agree completely. Even if the #1 seed hasn't had the greatest success lately isn't a reason to not try for it. I would rather the Broncos get some extra time off to heal up plus then have teams come to mile high. I do not I repeat do not want to go back to Foxboro. Tired of the Broncos playing at that stadium. I also think this year there is a lot more space between what is the top teams compared to that of the bottom teams when it comes to the playoffs than there has been in recent years. Indy looks just about done, KC although competitive is starting to show some issues on the defensive side of the ball, and who knows who the 6 seed will be at this time. Right now I would say it is down to New England, Cincy, and the Broncos for the AFC. I would love to see Cincinnati take over that 2 spot and make New England have to go on the road for the divisional.

 

[randymon]

Agree CD/Ikf. Plus I would certainly rather have Denver at home in inclement weather than on the rd vs the prob playoff teams ( unless it`s Miami ). And lets not forget the 12th man factor also. Go Brincos!! ( jk for iknowf)

 

[WalkerBoh]

While I'd love home field throughout the playoffs again, I can see some advantages of being #2. You still get the rest, but this could very likely ALSO result in the Chiefs playing in Foxboro in the divisional round. I see that matchup as win-win. If KC wins, we still host the championship game (should we be so fortunate as to win), and if NE wins, they will likely get banged up pretty good in the process. One thing I've noticed about the Chiefs defense is that even if it's not playing as well as it started, it still hits hard.

 

[WalkerBoh]

My DREAM would be the following:

1) DENVER
2) CINCY
3) NEW ENGLAND
4) INDIANAPOLIS
5) KANSAS CITY
6) BALTIMORE/MIAMI

Then in the Divisional round:
Denver vs. Baltimore/Miami
Cincy vs. KC/Indy

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

CINCY @ DENVER

 

[cdumler7]

My DREAM would be the following:

1) DENVER
2) CINCY
3) NEW ENGLAND
4) INDIANAPOLIS
5) KANSAS CITY
6) BALTIMORE/MIAMI

Then in the Divisional round:
Denver vs. Baltimore/Miami
Cincy vs. KC/Indy

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

CINCY @ DENVER

I would love to get another crack at Baltimore. I remember the Broncos board over at ESPN was just ridiculous after they won. It was an idiots paradise for a while. I would love to get some pay back beyond just Peyton lighting them up week one. Wouldn't mind another shot at Indy either although they are a shell of the team we played earlier in the year but it would be fun to hear all that their owner would have to say during the week. Chiefs I would rather not play a 3rd time but hey I guess beating them a 3rd time sounds pretty nice as well. Wouldn't mind revenge on the Pats either but that game has lost some of the excitement with Gronk out now.

I think my dream scenario would be...
Broncos vs. Baltimore in the divisional
then like you have it in Cincy @ Denver as they did look like the 2nd best team in the AFC this past weekend.

 

[Broncos6482]

I want absolutely no part of the Chiefs in the playoffs. I really believe the Broncos would beat them again, but I don't want that chance because I'd never hear the end of it (I live in Kansas City).

 

[iknowftbll]

Agree CD/Ikf. Plus I would certainly rather have Denver at home in inclement weather than on the rd vs the prob playoff teams ( unless it`s Miami ). And lets not forget the 12th man factor also. Go Brincos!! ( jk for iknowf)

Nice! I called them the brincos because they are on the brink of great things!

 

[iknowftbll]

I would love to get another crack at Baltimore. I remember the Broncos board over at ESPN was just ridiculous after they won. It was an idiots paradise for a while. I would love to get some pay back beyond just Peyton lighting them up week one. Wouldn't mind another shot at Indy either although they are a shell of the team we played earlier in the year but it would be fun to hear all that their owner would have to say during the week. Chiefs I would rather not play a 3rd time but hey I guess beating them a 3rd time sounds pretty nice as well. Wouldn't mind revenge on the Pats either but that game has lost some of the excitement with Gronk out now.

I think my dream scenario would be...
Broncos vs. Baltimore in the divisional
then like you have it in Cincy @ Denver as they did look like the 2nd best team in the AFC this past weekend.

Ultimately I don't care who the Broncos get in the playoffs. I do want them to draw home field advantage again, but don't care who they play as long as they don't let an opponent come in and beat them.

I was on the playoff generator on ESPN and if the Dolphins, Ravens, and Patriots all hit 10-6 then the Patriots are outside looking in. The Pats missing out entirely would be nice. On the other hand, them grinding out a 13-3 finish only to come to Denver and get smoked by the Broncos would be nice, too.

I like the idea of beating the Colts, but part of me wants Irsay to endure a few more "one and done" finishes before the Colts get a playoff win. Then you have the Chiefs, who haven't won a playoff game in a long time. I wouldn't mind seeing that drought continue, really.

A Ravens-Broncos rematch would be fun, as long as the outcome favored the good guys this time.

At the end of the day, I just care about the Broncos winning, though. All those other teams are in the playoff seeding as a matter of formality and professional courtesy. I don't care what teams the Broncos beat, just as long as they beat them.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Well, looks like both KC and NE have clinched at least a wildcard.

Our quest for a 1st round bye got a bit easier. A Denver win at Houston coupled with a Chiefs loss not only gives Denver the AFC West, but a 1st round bye. A Denver win coupled with a KC loss, and a NE loss gives us #1 seed.

Magic # is 2 for the AFC West.

Interesting note, even with the Bengals' loss this week, Patriots would need a LOT of help to bet a 1st round bye if they lose next week to the Ravens.

 

[WalkerBoh]

I was wrong, NE still hasn't clinched.

 

[cdumler7]

I was wrong, NE still hasn't clinched.

Theoretically if they were to lose their final 2 and Miami was to win out plus Baltimore win out the Patriots would miss the playoffs. A lot would have to happen. Now I will say it is very possible New England could end up in the 4 seed with Cincy and Indy passing them. All it would take is those two winning out and New England to lose one of the final two games. The @KC game for Indy could be tough for sure but then again Indy looked half way decent again yesterday so can only hope that they would take care of business in KC.