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Denver Broncos: Making sense of possible playoff paths

By Tylor Walden

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 2: Justin Simmons #31 of the Denver Broncos celebrates with his teammates after intercepting a pass during the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 2: Justin Simmons #31 of the Denver Broncos celebrates with his teammates after intercepting a pass during the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 2: Justin Simmons #31 of the Denver Broncos celebrates with his teammates after intercepting a pass during the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

The Denver Broncos will enter the last quarter of the season one game back of the final wild card spot. I take a look at all possible paths Denver can take.

Twelve games down in the 2018 NFL season. And don’t look now, but the Denver Broncos somehow are only one game out of the final playoff spot in the AFC.

If you asked me at the bye week if there was a chance Denver would make the playoffs at 3-6, I would have gone Jim Mora on you.

But it is looking like a possibility. The only issue? The Broncos cannot slip up during these final four games of the season. The good thing is that the Broncos have such a favorable schedule. Two games against teams that have already been eliminated and just playing for pride in the final four games. One against an intriguing Cleveland Browns team that is fighting for their playoff lives.

The final game will be against the Los Angeles Chargers. There is a chance that they could already have their playoff spot wrapped up before the season finale. But there is a chance that it could also be a game that could decide who gets in. But more on that later.

Going into Week 14 of the NFL season, this is what the AFC playoff picture looks like.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-2)
  2. New England Patriots (9-3)
  3. Houston Texans (9-3)
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4-1)
  5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-3)
  6. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)

In the hunt

7. Miami Dolphins (6-6)

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-6)

9. Denver Broncos (6-6)

10. Tennessee Titans (6-6)

As you can see, Denver is only one game back. However, because of their Week three loss to the Baltimore Ravens, they would lose the tiebreaker. Miami and Indianapolis are ahead of Denver based on conference records.

Let us take a look at each team ahead of the Broncos (minus Kansas City, New England, and Houston) and see how Denver can get past each one.

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