Currently on top of the AFC West standings, the Broncos control their own playoff destiny. All four AFC West teams are still alive in the division title chase, but the Broncos are in the lead.
The NFL will release its official playoff scenarios tomorrow morning, but it is believed that Denver can put itself into the postseason tournament with a win at Buffalo coupled with an Oakland loss or tie at Kansas City on Saturday, which would clinch the AFC West title. A Denver tie plus and Oakland loss and a San Diego loss or tie would also clinch the division.
A Denver win combined with losses by the New York Jets (vs. NYG), Cincinnati (vs. Ari.) and a loss or tie by Tennessee (vs. Jac.) would clinch at least a Wild Card berth for the Broncos.
Regardless of the Week 16 results, Denver can clinch a place in the postseason with a win in Week 17 at home against Kansas City. A win in that game would mean that Denver finished the season at least 9-7, which could leave the Broncos tied with Oakland or San Diego, should either team finish the season 2-0. The Broncos would earn the division crown based on tiebreakers against either team.
In the event that the Broncos finished the season tied for first place with Oakland, the tiebreakers would go as follows:
Head-to-head record: The teams are even at 1-1 on the year
Division record: The teams would be tied at 4-2 in the AFC West
Record in common games: Denver would win on this tiebreaker, having finished 7-5 in common games, while Oakland would be 6-6.
Should Denver find itself tied with San Diego atop the division, the tiebreakers would go as follows:
Head-to-head record: The teams are even at 1-1 on the year
Division record: Denver would win on this tiebreaker, having finished 4-2 in the AFC West, while San Diego would be 3-3.
Below are the full NFL tie-breaking procedures between two clubs:
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
Below are the full NFL tie-breaking procedures between three clubs:
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are
eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
-Stuart Zaas
Tags: Playoff Scenarios
13- 3 san fran
20-3 SF
It’s over – looks like Broncos will have Pit in wildcard round!
sup daddybronc. holding down the blogs i see. easy to be on when u live on the west coast. lol. thats wen i come on. i usually read during the day when i am at work. everybody is blogging during the day. then i get home and hardly anyone is on. too tired i guess.
it’s a tough job but….
the challenge is to say something that interests me when I’m the only one here.
I am surprised more fans don’t follow all the games,
i usually read more than i post. cant wait till saturday. football and christmas. good times.
Where you from SoCal?
i watch all the games. and on sundays its the red zone unless the broncos are playing.
in Corona, Riverside County.
Dang. A lot of people not having a good week 15 in the NFL. I still feel the Broncos can make the playoffs, and compete with anybody. Don’t know that we can beat a lot of top tier teams, but we can be competitive.
I think they need to let Tebow loose a little bit next week. And give the man more targets! Deion and Irving were talking about Tebow needing really good receivers and a good receiving TE. Would make a difference for sure. Good running in the first qtr and Tebow were one of the only reasons we were even remotely competitive against NE.
But Sunday definitely proved that we win and lose as a TEAM. Something many of us knew, but losing gave us all a not-so-subtle reminder. Here is to hoping we get a strong team effort on Saturday. We need a W and we need it badly with SD charging (no pun intended) and Oak remaining competitive.
Ahhh – I’m down there quite often.
Hello 0723 – Good assessment!
DANG! Aldon Smith passed Von Miller for most sacks this season by a rookie. Hopefully Von can play some catch up on Saturday!
big ben is making it too easy. von gets 2 at least against fitz.
I think the Broncos are that kind of team that kind of creates their own luck. While it would be a huge stretch to even imagine the Broncos as the best team in the NFL. I think it is very possible they could fall into the big match!!!
yeah – where the heck was Von?
Yeah, I think we have just as much of a chance as anybody. We are blessed to have a team that believes in each other and fights for 60+ minutes. I know some people didn’t like Tebow getting sacked for -28yards, but I think it showed just how much he is willing to fight to the very end. He could have went down and conceded, but the man has no quit. And neither does anyone else on the team. A great trait to have if we do in fact make the playoffs.
That 28 yard sack quits happening next year. That is just youth and inexperience.
those people are idiots. cause that didnt cost us the game. the turnovers did and d or lack of.
Very much a sign of youth. Also a sign of not having a hot read to get the ball out of his hands quicker when the blitz came. Never want to encourage a QB to do what he did. I just think it said a lot about how he was not going to go down on his own even when the game was pretty much out of reach at that point anyways.
Well said socal, a lot of people got super negative and seemed to completely ignore the turnovers and penalties. Obviously showing a lack of discipline is a part of not being playoff ready, but you hold on to the ball and avoid stupid penalties when we had NE stopped and it is a different ball game. We beat ourselves. Plain and simple.
well thats it for me. the steelers lost so its a good night. So good night fellow broncos.
I think it has to be terrible to have to play the Tebow led Broncos. No matter whether you win or lose you get torn up by the commentators.
When the PATS win – they get presented as the worse team in the history of football – and the Broncos are worse!!!
When the Broncs win – it was a scrub opponent – and they barely won!!
Strange phenomenon!
I think the game was more encouraging than disappointing. Losing sucks, and many took it hard after being spoiled for 6 weeks, but we showed that we can compete with the best of em. And Tebow showed he can make the hard throws. Lots of negatives for sure. But I think there were some big positives about where this team can go as long as they play for one another.
daddy, that is because nobody wants to give Tebow credit for anything positive. If we win, he had nothing to do with it. If we lose, he was the sole reason. It will be like that until he is recognized as a legit starting QB. Unfortunately, the media and critics will make sure that doesn’t happen anytime soon. Big Ben sucked tonight, does that mean he isn’t a legit QB?
Tebow is held to a completely different standard. He is “overhyped” and therefore he must be perfect or he is terrible. But I don’t understand how he is hyped up at all. All you hear is that he can’t succeed and that he got drafted too high. Is that the hype?
I agree
I’m out for the night – have a good one!!!
Is it just me or does it seem like we get more penalties at home than on the road?
I swear that ref Johnny whats his name couldn’t see a single hold on the patriots but he could see Denver do it from the end zone 50 yards away? Or is it just me?
Seems as though people think we’re gonna steam-roll the Bills in their own house……….
I don’t see it that way at all. I think we’re in for a dog fight and we’ll be fortunate to come away with a W. I’m not saying it’s not a winnable game by any means, but it’s gonna take a great effort by the whole team to get it done.
It still baffles me that it could all come down to a showdown with Orton of all people. It feels like we’ve been watching a classic sports movie all season long. I for one don’t want to handle the drama………GET IT DONE IN BUFFALO BOYS! oh, and a little help from the chiefs would be great too! lol
The Bills aren’t a pushover team. I don’t think we’ve played anyone this season that could be considered a pushover team. People are giving us respect because of what we’ve accomplished in the win column. So we should give other teams respect also and I firmly believe that no matter how bad your season is going or how bad some other team’s season is going it is never a “for sure win” even against teams like the Colts this year. Just as TEN about that one. So thinking we’ll just breeze in and out of Buffalo is a misconception in my opinion, same as with the Chiefs. Orton isn’t a bad QB and he’s actually seemingly brough a little positive vibe to the Chiefs offense especially getting a win against the undefeated Packers.
I didn’t anticipate being in the division race, honestly I didn’t. So just ending with an above .500 winning percentage is a positive in my book. Of course I’m not going to complain about getting to the playoffs either. If you would’ve told me when we were 1-4 we’d be leading the divison with our destiny in our own hands I probably would’ve laughed…that’s why we play the games though, right?
I think I did laugh when some bloggers had mentioned we could still make the playoffs way back then.
IF we make the playoffs, I think I’d rather face the steelers in the first round. They’re hurting right now and not playing the best football. Big Ben is hurting and he made that obvious in his performance last night. I think it would be a good match-up for us.
They would be a good test for us even “IF” we faced them and Batch was the starting QB. Still have a good ground game and their defense is stout. I definitely think they missed Harrison as well last night.
On the other hand the pessimist in me thinks we get destroyed in the first round just like KC..thus exposing how weak our division really is.
I hear ya brian………
But that’s why they play the games, right? I mean, who woulda thunk that the seahawks of all teams would bump off the saints……..
So there is hope, again, IF we make the playoffs!
Legwold always staying grounded kind of like I strive to do, that’s probably why I respect him more than any other local sports writer:
Once is just once, but two times can be the start of a trend.
The Broncos’ last two opponents spread them out on defense, usually in their nickel package, and ran the ball with success.
The Bears produced 92 of their 159 yards rushing against Denver while going against the Broncos’ nickel package.
The Patriots beat the Broncos 41-23 on Sunday in Denver with the help of 141 yards rushing. The Patriots did the bulk of that work against Denver’s nickel package. They rushed for 47 yards against the nickel in the third quarter after getting 37 yards against the nickel in the second quarter. That included a 16-yard run by tight end Aaron Hernandez.
It could be a big issue for the Broncos (8-6) down the stretch of a surprisingly successful season. Buffalo and Kansas City, the Broncos’ last two opponents, have the ability to spread things out on offense.
And if the Broncos were to qualify for the playoffs, AFC power teams such as Pittsburgh, Baltimore and New England would be happy to line up and pound away at a nickel package if given the opportunity.
Boy do we need Dawk bad helping with the nickel. He can stop the run like no others even so in coverage you can pretty much forget it at this late stage of his career.
has there been any updates on Dawk? It must’ve been pretty bad for him to sit out cause he’s such a warrior.
Call me crazy, this is a trend I do not like:
Thomas recorded another seven catches Sunday against New England, and his 338 yards in receptions for his past three games put him atop the NFL for December.
The 2010 first-round pick out of Georgia Tech failed to catch more than three passes in his first six games after returning to the lineup — until nabbing four catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns Dec. 4 at Minnesota.
He caught seven passes against Chicago, and that was his lucky number again Sunday against the Patriots. For three games in December, Thomas has 18 catches. He entered the month with a total of just seven catches in six games.
I’m happy for DMT, but this is looking way too much like a Carolina/Fox/McCoy deja vu, Steve Smith and nothing but Steve Smith.
That’s just way too easy an approach in the passing game for other teams to catch on, hopefully it’s only a passing trend, spread the ball around, it’s not like we don’t have anyone else to throw to.
Some of that may have to do with Tebow and his reads. They’re probably playing Decker tight and Tebow doesn’t want to fire a pass into tight coverage. Or maybe they’re just trying to show that we have legitimate threats at WR so not just one has potential forcing teams to account for Decker, DMT, and Willis?
Or maybe you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!
Fox said Monday there were no “serious” injuries to report but was coy as to why running back Willis McGahee missed much of the second half against the Patriots. McGahee left the lineup in the first half with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. “Willis has had injuries before. It’s a tough game,” Fox said. … No word if safety Brian Dawkins (neck) will be ready for Buffalo after sitting out Sunday’s loss to New England.
Yep, McGahee is not the runner he was earlier this season and now that Fox lost Moreno he is left with a patch up running game, fortunately Ball and Jeremiah have been a big help and our hopes rest on them to keep coming through. Never enough RBs Fox, of all coaches I was certain you knew that….
I would know, I’m the same age as Fox, answer #2, haha.
Legwold telling it like it is, like he should:
The Broncos are upstarts, still under construction, a fact that may have been camouflaged in recent weeks. They were reminded of that at Green Bay, before they believed in what might be.
Sunday was a full buffet of what sustained success looks like, what championship quarterback play looks like, what it takes to will a team past its deficiencies.
“The Patriots just find different ways to win games,” Broncos cornerback André Goodman said. “It’s something we admire, something we aspire to be as a football team.”
Despite the Patriots being a flawed team that was last in the league in total defense, last in pass defense with a jumbled secondary that included a wide receiver or two playing defensive back and missing two starting offensive linemen, the Patriots had Tom Brady and they had will.
“And they showed everybody what they’re about,” Champ Bailey said.
And this is as good a team as any to reflect on where your own team is at and trying to come up with ways to improve it accordingly.
I don’t always care for Klis’ opinion, but this one is worthy of posting since it addresses the bloggers here who say we lost that game because of the turnovers and penalties:
The mistakes led to the semi-blowout. But it was difficult to imagine the Broncos winning, anyway, because of how Patriots quarterback Tom Brady shredded Denver’s secondary. The score could have been worse than 41-23, you know. The Pats went to the four corners slowdown in the fourth quarter.
I agree 100%.
The Nickel thing is no surprise tho … i believe you mentioned that many weeks ago, like right before the 2nd raiders game I believe. Lotta holes in our defense thats why I felt people saying that D was the sole reason of our wins were just people who were trying to take away from what a Tebow led offense can do. Need to draft more D. However in the past the D has been gashed for yards but held strong in the redzone … if we can do that we can survive … coaches will trade giving up more yards for less points anyday. But when they do score like NE can do (and they have one of the best redzoen offenses) … its a problem. Thats why the ball control offense is so neccesary. I think we can hang with the big boys in the AFC … can we beat them .. dunno about all that. Team shows me flashes. Sometimes its a chess match that just comes down to who made the better moves at the right time and who anticipated what was coming up. Thats what playcalling is all about anyway … anticipation and trust in players to execute properly and make a play or 2 even when not in the best play.
No team in the NFL is easy … all teams match up differently as well. Like just because we beat the chiefs and the chiefs beat the packers doesn’t mean we can beat the packers … any given sunday. Thats why we play the game. I believe however that this team will respond with feroscity after losing last week. I only predicted a 5 point win but would not shock me if its more. I think they really took that loss to heart, they had forgotten the taste of losing … doubt they ever wanna feel it again if they can help it.
TRB
And he elaborates about it some more:
Going into this game, it was difficult figuring out how the Broncos’ defense could match up with the Patriots’ inside receiving trio of Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The Broncos picked their poison by putting Chris Harris on Welker, and double-teaming Gronkowski. Harris did fine, holding Welker to four catches and 41 yards although there were two big holding calls against the rookie nickelback. Gronkowski wasn’t a factor until his 38-yard, change-the-field reception in the fourth quarter.
Hernandez, though, was left one-on-one to safety Quinton Carter or linebacker Wesley Woodyard. And Hernandez took turns beating both. If the game were close till the end, I don’t believe even Tebow Magic could have helped the Broncos overcome their defensive mismatches.
That’s what this game was all about, our secondary with no shot at stopping the Pats Triumvirate receiving corp of Hernandez-Gronk-Welker, said that all along and it just happened, turnovers and penalties only made it worse but were not the main reason for the loss.
Now that it’s all water under the bridge,
ALL I WANT FOR XMAS IS A BRONCO WIN AND A RAIDER LOSS!
I hear Klis and all but sayign the game woulda been lost either way even without the turnovers because of the way our secondary played is the same as saying we would have won without the turn overs. For example … at the beginign of the game for it to be 16-7 we had scored on 3 drives and and they had scored on 1 … since we got the ball first that means we had successfully stopped em once or twice because we were moving on a 4th drive. If we kept running and doing our thing the possibility exists that their D woulda been worn out and we would have been so far ahead. A distance that Brady can close sure … but one he woulda had to do with his hands. having the lead they went to somethign they rarely do. Run. And they succeeded on our Nickel cuz we were thinking pass cuz we were torched so much. If they were far down, I believe it would have been pass all the way which would have improved our chances for sacks (altho we could barely get any penetration) … I dunno if im just a fan wanting to to blame somethign for a loss but theres no way you fumble twice in your own 20 back to back give up points, stop them on D, and fumble again on a punt and give them points and not thing that that decided the game. The way we play … I believe that decided the whole game. And to make matters worse … it was at the end of the 2nd quarter and they were getting the ball … so the technically had like 4 straight drives … i mean sure we could say the D shoulda stopped em but thats a tall order. When you turn over it hurts twice cuz you don’t put points on the board and (in this case) They do. TRB