How the Denver Broncos Can Make the Playoffs
The Denver Broncos are close to achieving a playoff berth, something they haven’t done since 2015. With a 7-5 record through 12 games, the Broncos are currently in position for a playoff spot.
Head coach Sean Payton and rookie quarterback Bo Nix have been successful in their first season together in Denver. If the Broncos beat the Cleveland Browns on “Monday Night Football,” they will have a 76% chance of making the playoffs, according to NFL.com’s playoff projections.
After finishing 8-9 last season, Denver is one win away from matching their total from 2023, with five games still to play. Nix will continue to strengthen his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year if he keeps leading his team to victories.
Broncos Playoff Odds
FanDuel Sportsbook gives the Broncos -154 odds to make the playoffs, indicating a 60.6% chance of qualifying. The odds of missing the playoffs are set at +126.
Remaining Schedule
According to Tankathon, the Broncos have the 14th-toughest remaining schedule, with upcoming opponents holding a combined win percentage of .533. Of their five remaining games, only two are divisional matchups, both against teams ahead of them in the standings. The other three games are against teams with losing records: the Browns, Bengals, and Colts.
Denver’s remaining opponents are:
- Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns (3-8)
- Week 14: BYE
- Week 15: vs. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
- Week 16: at Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
- Week 18: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
AFC West Standings
Currently in third place in the AFC West, the Broncos still hold a playoff spot. However, they face an uphill battle for the divisional title, as they’ve already lost to both the Chiefs and Chargers. To have a chance at winning the division, the Broncos must win their remaining games against these teams to split the head-to-head tiebreakers.
After Week 13, the AFC West standings are:
- Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Denver Broncos (7-5)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
Can the Broncos Make the Playoffs?
As of Week 13, the Broncos have a 72.3% chance of making the playoffs. Their chances for different playoff seeds are:
- 1st seed: 1.0%
- 2nd seed: 1.6%
- 3rd seed: 0.7%
- 4th seed: <0.1%
- 5th seed: 14.4%
- 6th seed: 24.2%
- 7th seed: 30.4%
Can the Broncos Win the AFC West?
The odds for winning the AFC West after Week 13 are:
- Kansas City Chiefs: 88.8%
- Los Angeles Chargers: 7.9%
- Denver Broncos: 3.3%
- Las Vegas Raiders: 0.0%
Browns vs. Broncos Matchup Preview
The Broncos are focused on securing a playoff spot, while the Browns are evaluating for the future. Cleveland continues to give Jameis Winston a chance to prove himself as their starting quarterback. Winston has posted a 2-2 record since taking over for Deshaun Watson, with the Browns averaging 19.25 points per game during his starts.
This could be a tough matchup for Winston, as the Broncos allow the eighth-fewest passing yards per game and the sixth-fewest rushing yards. Over their last three games, Denver has allowed just 58.7 rushing yards per game.
On the offensive side, the Broncos are led by Bo Nix, who has been excellent as a rookie. He’s in the conversation for Rookie of the Year, having thrown eight touchdowns and no interceptions over his last three games. The Browns have allowed the ninth-most passing yards per game, and the Broncos’ running backs could also find success, as Cleveland gives up the 10th-most rushing yards per game.
With Denver playing at home and coming off a strong win over the Steelers, they’re expected to perform well and likely win this game.
Leave a Reply