The Broncos earned their first playoff berth since the 2005 season by virtue of coming out on top of the most closely contested division in the NFL this season.
Three teams finished tied atop the AFC West with 8-8 records and the fourth place team, Kansas City, came in just one game back at 7-9. No other division had fewer than four games separate the top from the bottom.
Denver, Oakland and San Diego were so even-matched throughout the season that it took the third tiebreaker to determine a division champ. With three teams tied, the NFL’s initial tiebreaker is head-to-head record amongst the tied teams. Every team in the division split its games against the other three AFC west clubs, so it was on to the next tiebreaker.
Tiebreaker No. 2 is the win-loss percentage withing division games. Since all four teams finished 3-3 in divisional play, the process moved on to tiebreaker No. 3, which is win-loss percentage in games against common opponents.
Each AFC West team played the four clubs in the NFC North (Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota) and the four members of the AFC East (Buffalo, Miami, New England and N.Y. Jets). Those eight games, along with six AFC West games that each team had in common added up to 14 common opponents between Denver, Oakland and San Diego.
This is the tiebreaker that gave the Broncos the AFC West after the team finished one game better than Oakland and San Diego in this comparison. Denver posted a 7-7 record to Oakland’s and San Diego’s 6-8.
If you are trying to pinpoint specific games that factored into the team’s division title more than others, Denver’s wins over Miami, Chicago and the New York Jets were the difference makers in this tiebreaker. Those also happened to be three of the Broncos’ most improbable victories of the year.
The Broncos and Raiders fared the same against every one of their common opponents with the exception of the Dolphins. Denver overcame a 15-0 deficit late in the fourth quarter to come away with an 18-15 overtime victory, while Oakland lost to Miami 34-14.
Denver earned the advantage over San Diego with wins over Chicago and the New York Jets — both of whom defeated the Chargers. San Diego did come out on top of Buffalo, who Denver lost to, but the wins over the Bears and Jets gave the Broncos a one-game edge in this comparison. Both of those wins also saw Denver overcome late deficits to earn the victories.
Below is a game-by-game comparison of how the three teams fared against common opponents:
Denver: San Diego and Oakland each went 1-1 against the Broncos.
Oakland: Denver and San Diego each went 1-1 against the Raiders.
San Diego: Denver and Oakland each went 1-1 against the Chargers.
Kansas City: Denver, San Diego and Oakland each went 1-1 against the Chiefs.
Chicago: Denver won 13-10, Oakland won 25-20, San Diego lost 31-20.
Detroit: Denver lost 45-10, Oakland lost 28-17 and San Diego lost 38-10.
Green Bay: Denver lost 49-23, Oakland lost 46-16 and San Diego lost 45-38.
Minnesota: Denver won 35-32, Oakland won 27-21 and San Diego won 24-17.
Buffalo: Denver lost 40-13, Oakland lost 38-35 and San Diego won 37-10.
Miami: Denver won 18-15, Oakland lost 34-14, San Diego won 26-16.
New England: Denver lost 41-21, Oakland lost 31-19 and San Diego lost 35-21.
New York Jets: Denver won 17-13, Oakland won 34-24 and San Diego lost 23-20.
-Stuart Zaas
Tags: AFC West, Common Opponents, Tiebreakers, Wild Card
Overall I think this team has derailed. Can’t win doing the same things over and over when people adjust to u. Also can’t win with turnovers that seemed to start in the NE game and never stop.
Curtou, Tebow had a good game at NE as well. Even tho we lost.
We maybe wasting our time but I don’t think what is required for TT to be great in the NFL is too far out of reach. This is just my personal opinion. The thing about TT is u either beleive he is capable or he is not. As it stands, if he is a phony it will show next year as we lose many games and get a top pick for barkley (since he is staying in school) … or Logan Thomas of VT (Guys up and coming.) … point is we got nothing to lose. Not unless we throw away all our picks for 2012 and 2013 … no way we get to a spot to pick Luck or RG3 … and even THEY could be bust. I don’t think its every truly worth it to trade so many picks to draft one player. Draft is a crapshoot … better to feel bad about missing with 1 pick than to feel bad about missing with multiple first round picks and 2nd round picks and how many picks it would take to move up. And moving up this year will be competitive too. Many people what the QBs. People say working with Tebow can set this franchise back … so can trading 2012 first, 2nd and 2013 first for one player and then the player busts (not saying they will) … i personally feel that Raiders were stupid to trade 2 first round picks for Palmer … but at least the guy is proven (just at the end of his career)
TRB
Bay, I was at the game Sunday and I know that this is like way late, but the game was awesome. The punting was obviously the best part. It wasn’t like last year when I wanted Kyle Orton out, I was staying to the end because we always have a chance. Loads of people stayed. It was obvious disappointment, but then some of us stayed to watch the Oakland game on the big screens waiting to see if Philip rivers and co were gonna give us a new years day present. It wasn’t the way we all wanted it, but it was SO loud. I was at the McDaniels Patriots game a few years ago when we won in over time… It was louder last Sunday!
Thanks for the info, appreciate it very much, good for you.
i have to thank somebody for Tebow and it wont be McD
Just Watched the best football movie ever, Remember the Titans, those kids rose up and overcame such obstacles as to make our chances in the play-offs look the size of Tinkerbell’s dress. No one thinks Tim can lead us to the promised land, I will not be one of these fans. No one thought that Elway could win either, and yet He did, No one even wanted to take a chance on Hot Rod and as it turned out only Jerry was better.(How he was totally ignored in the HOF voting this year is perhaps the biggest mystery of 2011) but I digress The fact is WE CAN BEAT THE STEELERS AND I CAN’T SAY IT ENOUGH TIM TEBOW IS A WINNER AND WE ARE GOING TO GO FARTHER THAN ANYONE DARE HOPE GO BRONCOS….WIN IT ALL GUYS LEAVE NOTHING TO DISPUTE! GO BRONCOS!!
AND IF YOU AIN’T DOWN WITH THAT I GOT TWO WORDS FOR YA….$UCK !T…GO BRONCOS!!
Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done
corithians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
Psalm 3:6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side
Psalm 27:3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
Proverbs 3:5-65Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Faith can move mountains it is written:Just believe,even when all you have left is a Prayer,Its Then Miracles Happen.