The Denver Broncos entered this season with no shortage of question marks. The first year under Sean Payton was a success, as this team saw its win total improve by three. However, that growth could have easily swung in either direction, as they played a league-high seven games decided by a field goal or less.
Payton is as aware as anyone that quality quarterback play is needed to make the NFL’s second season, so it ultimately wasn’t a surprise that he opted to go that way with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
But was Bo Nix the right man for the job? Could he learn on the fly, or would it take time to develop into a true threat?
What Is the Denver Broncos’ Current Playoff Picture?
After a bumpy start to the season with a pair of losses, Denver has put itself in a spot where it controls its own destiny. The ordering of the AFC Wild Card teams was very much in the air heading into the weekend. And despite Denver’s loss to the Bengals on Saturday, the Broncos only need to win a Week 18 game against a Kansas City Chiefs team with nothing to play for to clinch their AFC playoff berth.
A win on Saturday against the desperate Cincinnati Bengals would have ensured an invite to the dance for the Broncos, their first since winning it all in 2015. But Joe Burrow and the Bengals found a way to knock off Denver in overtime and keep their own playoff hopes alive.
A Week 18 win against the Chiefs may not sound like a spot you want to be, but with Kansas City having zero motivation, Denver will likely be favored to win that game. Don’t forget that the Broncos had every chance to win the Week 10 game in Arrowhead, as the reigning champs needed a blocked field goal at the end of regulation to secure the 16-14 victory.
Going winless in their final two games wouldn’t eliminate the Broncos by itself, but it would open the door for the Bengals and Miami Dolphins to pass them in the hierarchy of the AFC.
Of course, those three teams are a game back, so they’d need to win out just to make this a conversation. That said, if any of them do, they’d all be prioritized over Denver.
- Bengals: Would have beaten the Broncos head-to-head in Week 17
- Dolphins: Would have a better record against the AFC than the Broncos
To sum up, the Broncos can still earn that final AFC Wild Card berth in the following ways:
1) Broncos win in Week 18; OR
2) Dolphins lose in Week 18 AND Bengals lose in Week 18.
To simulate all the different scenarios, head over to PFN’s free NFL Playoff Predictor to see how they change the playoff picture and the NFL postseason bracket.