With the Broncos locked in to one of the top four seeds in the AFC playoffs thanks to a second consecutive AFC West title, we thought we’d take a look at updated playoff seeding every week for the rest of the regular season.
Not much changed in the standings this week, but Houston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati all lost. The only change was Denver moving up to the No. 3 seed.
Currently, Houston and New England would have first-round byes as the top two seeds. Meanwhile, the Broncos would host the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Ravens would host the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round.
With three games left on the schedule, there’s a lot that remains undecided. The Broncos, for example, could end up anywhere from the No. 1 seed (win one more game than New England and two more than Houston down the stretch) to the No. 4 seed.
The wild-card teams are up in the air, as well.
Here’s a look at who the teams currently in the top six — plus Cincinnati, who at 7-6 is tied with Pittsburgh, and a newcomer, the New York Jets, who at 6-7 are one game out — have remaining on their schedules:
HOUSTON:
vs. Indianapolis (9-4)
vs. Minnesota (7-6)
at Indianapolis (9-4)
NEW ENGLAND:
vs. San Francisco (9-3-1)
at Jacksonville (2-11)
vs. Miami (5-8)
DENVER:
at Baltimore (9-4)
vs. Cleveland (5-8)
vs. Kansas City (2-11)
BALTIMORE:
vs. Denver (10-3)
vs. New York Giants (8-5)
at Cincinnati (7-6)
INDIANAPOLIS:
at Houston (11-2)
at Kansas City (2-11)
vs. Houston (11-2)
PITTSBURGH:
at Dallas (7-6)
vs. Cincinnati (7-6)
vs. Cleveland (5-8)
CINCINNATI:
at Philadelphia (4-9)
at Pittsburgh (7-6)
vs. Baltimore (9-4)
NEW YORK JETS:
at Tennessee (4-9)
vs. San Diego (5-8)
at Buffalo (5-8)
Below are the playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 15:
HOUSTON TEXANS
Houston clinches AFC South division with:
1) HOU win
Houston clinches a first-round bye with:
1) HOU win + NE loss or tie + DEN loss
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore clinches AFC North division with:
1) BAL win OR
2) BAL tie + PIT loss or tie + CIN loss or tie OR
3) PIT loss + CIN loss
Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:
1) BAL tie OR
2) CIN loss or tie OR
3) PIT loss or tie
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Indianapolis clinches a playoff spot with:
1) IND win OR
2) IND tie + CIN loss or tie OR
3) IND tie + PIT loss or tie OR
4) IND tie + BAL win OR
5) NYJ loss or tie + CIN loss OR
6) NYJ loss or tie + BAL win + CIN tie + PIT tie
I am now rooting for the Niners and the Colts. This is the best possible way for Denver to get the 1 or 2 seed. I think if Denver wins out, SF beats NE and Indy beats Houston twice then Denver is the #1 seed. Sure it’s a pipe dream but a man can hope.
RH – I might have missed your post, but how did it go for you in the Black Hole?
I had a blast. Thanks for asking.
My wife and I got tickets from her sister who works for Coors. They were really good seats in the “club” section. Since the tickets were higher end, the fans were classier than the regular bunch. The stadium was half empty and because of the season the Raiders are having, they were harassing the Denver fans as much this year. Makes me wish I had listened to Bay and worn my gear. It didn’t take long for people to figure out that my wife and I were cheering for the away team. A crazy drunk lady sat in the seat next to my wife and tried to intimidate us. She said “When the Raiders score I’m going to scream in your ear and dance so you may want to move down”. I told her “Soooo…you won’t be doing any screaming or dancing today?!?”
She didn’t last past midway through the second quarter and she had to leave.
So much fun! Besides that lady, we had a really cool crowd of people around us plus we had our own special concessions stands with no lines and a waitress.
Last year I had a very different experience and had beer spilled on me and was getting threatened. Amazing the difference in attitude from the cheap seats to the upper level.
If we can beat Baltimore then we just have to hope SanFran can beat New England. If New England comes to Denver…whole different story.
I always root for an NFC win over any AFC team other than our Broncos….and that will be particularly important with the 49′ers in Foxborough next week……but it won’t really mean squat if we don’t beat the Ravens.
The Texans are one of the weaker teams IMO. They barely scraped out a win against the Jags, got lucky and slipped past the Lions, and got demolished last night. Def a team not peaking at the right time.
The Ravens are just plain over-rated and not as good as thier record either. They’ve squeeked out some really close wins and really should’ve lost to San Diego…….then the 2 losses to Batch and the Skins.
But our Broncos? We’ve been climbing since that 2nd half in San Diego and although there has been a few stumbles along the way, we’ve always manage to pick ourselves up and finish games. We’re still on the rise and will peak at the right time.
Highly doubt the Texans will lose 2 of their last 3………so I’m prepared to concede the number 1 seed. But all it will take is 1 hiccup from NE to put us in the drivers seat.
All I know is there’s a great chance we’ll face the Pats at some point, and I’d much rather it be at home then in Foxborough.
GO BRONCOS!
Amen, Killerkod!
Glad you had a great time at the game RH! Next year I’ll be attending a home game and I want it to either be against the Raiders or the Chargers……..I hate both teams equally. Either way, my dream is to attend a division matchup in Denver.
we’ll do are part by winning out these last 3 games, just got to root for the 49ers. The 49ers are pretty solid in the secondary, compared to the Texans. I’m concerned for their Offense especially with the recent change at QB. I hope I’m wrong.
Royal, its nice catching up with ya! All the Broncos can do is there part. After that its playoffs which ever seed that may be. Out of my selfishness I hope its Numero Uno!! That would be a neat trick. LOL
It look like Woodyard is most likely to play this Sunday. I hope Kuper is ready.
Glad you had a great time RH !! A definite better where you were sitting !!
Nice post KK !! Go Niners!!! lol.
Like you said on previous post strand… a nice slide by the Texans could help get that #2 seed, or Pats drop one which I highly doubt, but will hope for!
If not, will have to take care of business the hard way. HaHa!!
No doubt… the Pats don’t want to come to Denver in January…. had a bad experience last time that happened…lol!
So maybe we can take care of business in Foxborough…. hope for the best, be prepared for the worst.
It sure would be nice to get Kupe back… lord knows we need him to open some holes for KM.
Plus McD will get pummeled from the southstands when he runs in….lmao!!!!!
Amen Brother. LOL
I didn’t even think about that. The Broncos crowd will show No Quarter on McDuffus!
Ealry lines for this week
9ers/Pats
Pats -8.5, Over/Under 55.5
Hou/Indy
HOU -4.5, Over/Under 51.5
I’ve missed a lot of games this year because of my location on the west coast of Canada but I’ve been a diehard Broncos fan since the Orange Crush Defense ruled the mountain tops. It’s time to get back to the big dance and Baltimore is the next step.
Den/BAL
Den -5.5, Over/Under 49.5
Our boys really ought to pound BAL… Great Physical Test and I’m glad they get this game before the Playoffs Start
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8736662/paul-tagliabue-vacates-new-orleans-players-bounty-penalties
Old Commish kind of stepping on the toes of the new Commish! Props to the players for rejecting the plea deal and getting vindicated
Howdy BT. Since you like do to trivia ive got one for you. Last MVP that wasnt a RB or QB?
I say fire Goodell! I’m tired of watching plays were there are perfectly clean tackles that are flag for a Defenseless player such as The Cincy Defender hitting Dez Bryant out of bounds, and a flag was thrown. A crock a crap these calls are by overly reacting refs. FIRE GOODELL IMMEDIATELY!!!!!
Goodell is messing up the real game of the NFL. It’s overkill!! Mop up the calls refs!! Get it right!!
I’m talking about clean hard nose tackles and not helmet to helmets. Even the TV commentators are saying the same thing.
AB, I guess LT. Taylor that is.
Hi AB.. Great Trivia Question my Man!!! I believe it is one of my all time favorites LT (Lawrence Taylor, the REAL LT) in the mid 80′s…
Hi Strand and Wolfe!
LT was AMAZING!!!! I still love to watch film of that guy…
Strand, I’m with you on disliking Goodell… He’s too proud of his authority
Hey Turtle. I was reading the QB conversation earlier and my take is if you put Manning, Elway, Brady,and Montana in a bag and took which ever one walked out you couldn’t go wrong. Brady and the Pats were awesome against the Texans and seem to be on track for a SB appearance. I agree, Taylor was the man.
Somehow BT I know you would get it. LT in 86 I believe. Nice job Too Wolfedom!
Only three players got the MVP that wernt a QB or RB. A DT (Alan Page) LT and a place kicker Mark Mosley in 82. Was surprised that no WR has ever won.
In ’87, the year that Elway won the award, three of the four voting associations Gave the award to Jerry Rice (PFWA, NEA, TSN)
I’d agree with you there Wolfe, wouldn’t complain about any 4 of them leading my team!
New Blog(s)!!!
new blog
EVEN IF THEY DONT GET FIRST ROUND BYE THEY WILL WIN ON THE ROAD TO THE SB