That the Broncos are even in playoff contention on Christmas Eve could be considered a step in the right direction for the franchise. Denver entered the season looking to snap a seven-year playoff drought, but a 1-5 start quickly put those hopes on the backburner. The Broncos have since rallied back into the race, even surging above .500 on two different occasions.
When you start 1-5, however, the margin for error becomes razor thin. Recent losses to the Texans and Lions have kept Denver’s hopes dim, even if the long-term outlook is improving. A loss to the Patriots on Sunday night dealt another brutal blow to the Broncos’ hopes.
Because of their position, the Broncos will be scoreboard watching as long as they are in contention. A handful of other AFC results could impact Denver’s odds as the Broncos look for some help.
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Here’s a closer look at where the Broncos stand in the AFC playoff picture and which teams Denver fans will want to root against going forward.
Broncos playoff picture
Despite their midseason surge, the Broncos haven’t finished any week in possession of a playoff spot. It’s looking unlikely that such a scenario will happen at all after their loss to New England.
Denver sits 11th in the AFC at 7-8, placing them a full game back of a wild-card spot as well as a full game behind the three teams ahead of them: the 8-7 Texans, Steelers and Bengals.
The crowded race left little margin for error for the Broncos, and there is no margin for error now. They will need to win out and get extraordinarily help from the teams ahead of them in the form of losses.
Here’s a look at the updated AFC standings.
Seed Team Record 1 Ravens 11-3 2 Dolphins 11-4 3 Chiefs 9-5 4 Jaguars 8-7 5 Browns 10-5 6 Bills 9-6 7 Colts 8-7 8 Texans 8-7 9 Steelers 8-7 10 Bengals 8-7 11 Broncos 7-8
A 4-6 conference record is negatively affecting the Broncos, and they missed an opportunity to improve that record against New England.
If head-to-head tiebreakers come into play, the Broncos have the advantage over the Bills but do not have the tiebreaker over the Texans. If Denver finishes in a tie that involves any other team in that mix, a head-to-head tiebreaker cannot be used.
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The objective for the Broncos is simple: win out. Finishing 9-8 and reaching the playoffs is unlikely, though not impossible — Denver was not formally eliminated in Week 16 despite the loss.
The Broncos can also still win the AFC West, though that would require Denver winning out and Kansas City losing out. Denver can be eliminated from divisional contention with a Chiefs win on Christmas.
Broncos remaining schedule 2023
The Broncos have the benefit of a fairly light schedule over the final three weeks of the season, facing two teams that have already made a head coaching change and another with the worst record in the AFC.
Day Opponent Record Dec. 24 vs. Patriots 3-11 Dec. 31 vs. Chargers 5-9 Jan. 7 at Raiders 6-8
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