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Denver Broncos: FanSided believes team makes playoffs in 2020

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 01: Quarterback Drew Lock #3 of the Denver Broncos is congratulated by his father, Andy Lock, after their win against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High on December 01, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 01: Quarterback Drew Lock #3 of the Denver Broncos is congratulated by his father, Andy Lock, after their win against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High on December 01, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 24: Micah Hyde #23 of the Buffalo Bills attempts to tackle Noah Fant #87 of the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL game at New Era Field on November 24, 2019, in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 24: Micah Hyde #23 of the Buffalo Bills attempts to tackle Noah Fant #87 of the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL game at New Era Field on November 24, 2019, in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /

How realistic are these predictions?

If you were to poll a panel of NFL experts, a good majority of them would likely agree that the Broncos are a fringe playoff team in 2020 with a ceiling of about 9-7, just as Verderame has them.

Some of the results are a bit of a headscratcher though.

In these predictions, the Broncos start the season 3-1 with wins over the Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. The only loss in the first month of the season comes against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s a bit of a surprise to see Verderame predict that the Broncos will knock off the Chiefs in their first meeting, but it’s an encouraging result. If these predictions became true, the Broncos would be sitting at 5-2 going into the bye week.

Any fan would gladly take that.

But coming out of the bye week, the Broncos losing two games in a row is where I have an issue. As discussed here, those two games fall during a three-game stretch where the Broncos must be sharp and ready to capitalize.

The team closes out the year by winning three of four games to position itself for a Wild Cad berth. But should the Broncos actually face a road game against the Bills in the playoffs, how would that look?

Could Josh Allen really beat the Broncos, even if it was a home game? It would be a tight game, as Verderame predicts, and it’s tough to argue with his prediction as things sit right now.

The Bills, like the Broncos, are a tough young team that is ready to make the leap. They should have won a playoff game last year (they gave away a late lead against the Houston Texans last postseason) and many see them as the team ready to dethrone the New England Patriots in the AFC East.

The Broncos have also lost their last three trips to Buffalo and have not won there since the 2007 season.

The teams have met just one time ever in the playoffs. That came on January 12, 1992, when the Bills defeated the Broncos 10-7 to win the AFC Championship Game.

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