Vegas’ Midseason Outlook on the Broncos and the AFC Playoff Picture

Oct 11, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (25) scores on a 75-yard interception return in the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (25) scores on a 75-yard interception return in the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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Jan 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) recovers a fumble by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) that was caused by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) during an NFL football game at NRG Stadium. The Texans defeated the Jaguars 30-6 to win the AFC South Division. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) recovers a fumble by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) that was caused by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) during an NFL football game at NRG Stadium. The Texans defeated the Jaguars 30-6 to win the AFC South Division. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This is the NFL’s LOLLLLLLapalooza. Every year, these four franchises are 7-9 at best, yet at least one masquerades as a 9-7 or 10-6 team because this division is booty. Houston, and their fearsome QB ranked 32nd in yards per attempt and 27th in completion percentage are in first place.

Andrew Luck and the group of pine trees Ryan Grigson hired to protect him are a half game in front of the Jaguars – who are still a swamp of sadness and fantasy football fraudulence (to all those who lost to Blake Bortles and his worst 300 yard 3 TD performance in NFL history last week, I feel your pain).

The Titans are surprisingly adequate (that defense might even be good). They should enthrall every football masochist with a fierce race to 9-7 with the Texans and Colts, resulting in a beatdown at home by the AFC West runner up.

Favorite: Texans (-175)

Value: Titans (+275), Colts (+500)

Longshot: Jaguars (again) (+2500) – if you were going to bet a longshot, it would be the Jags, which is an indictment of the division, not an endorsement of the team that will be known in the future as the London Englishmen.

Schedule