The first six spots in the AFC playoff picture are all but settled. The Bills have already won their division and the Chiefs are on the verge of doing so, and the Chargers, Texans, Ravens, and Steelers all have better than a 95% chance of qualifying for the upcoming postseason. That leaves one wild card spot open, and the Denver Broncos are the ones who have the best shot at their first trip to the playoffs since 2015.
Broncos In The Driver’s Seat For Final AFC Playoff Spot
Things looked bleak early on for Sean Payton and company. They started off the year with back-to-back losses, and appeared to be destined for their 8th losing season in a row. But thanks in large part to the emergence of rookie quarterback Bo Nix, they’ve gone 7-3 since and are in full control of their own postseason destiny as they gear up for their Monday Night Football meeting with the Cleveland Browns.
As it stands before the Week 13 action for the Broncos, they currently hold a 64% chance of qualifying for the playoffs (according to ESPN’s NFL Power Index). Thanks to the loss suffered by the Dolphins on Thanksgiving, Miami is fading away with an 11% shot, and the Bengals have essentially played themselves out of any contention and currently sit at 4%.
A Battle of the Bama boys on Monday Night 🐘
Who you giving the edge to for Browns-Broncos? 👀
8:15 PM ET | ESPN 📺 pic.twitter.com/Nb4MDK3vtF
— ESPN (@espn) December 2, 2024
The team that presents the biggest threat to the Broncos is the Colts. Thanks to their thrilling last-second victory on Sunday over the Patriots, Indianapolis is currently 1.5 games behind Denver, and would see their chances improve drastically should the Browns wind up being victorious on Monday night. There will be plenty on the line in Week 15, as Denver and Indy are scheduled to square off in a game that will go a long way in deciding the ultimate fate for both teams this season.
There is reason for optimism for the Colts. While Denver doesn’t exactly have a murderer’s row of opponents heading down the stretch, Indianapolis has the second-softest remaining schedule in the entire league. Their toughest remaining game will come against those Broncos, with contests against the Giants, Jaguars, and Titans still on the horizon.
The toughest game remaining on the schedule for the Broncos will be their matchup with the division rival Kansas City Chiefs during the final week of the season. But that game may not hold much meaning when it finally rolls around, especially if Denver has already clinched the final playoff spot.
