If the Denver Broncos are going to make the playoffs, it's got to happen in the final three weeks of the season. The Broncos don't exactly control their own destiny, but if you can find a way to win these last three games and control what you can control, you never know what could happen.
I still think that winning 10 games puts you in a great position, but with the way Week 15 turned out, it couldn't have been more disastrous for the Broncos. But even though things were as bad as possible in Week 15, who's to say things won't turn around for the better in Week 16? This has been a crazy NFL season, so nothing would be surprising.
And as far as the Denver Broncos are concerned, as much focus gets placed on what other teams are doing, this Broncos team has no choice but to win. And they've done that over the majority of the last two months. The Broncos are 6-2 in their last eight games, although that loss against Detroit looked a lot more like the team that started the year 1-5.
What's going to happen over the final three weeks of the season? Are the Broncos going to do their part and get to 10-7? Let's make an updated set of predictions for each of these remaining games.
Week 16: New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
Sunday, December 24, 6:15 PM MST
The Denver Broncos finally return home after a three-game road trip (in which they went a disappointing 1-2). This will be a much-needed homecoming for the Broncos, and a potentially critical win in the AFC. I don't think the New England Patriots are going to roll over for anybody, but you certainly get the impression that the Broncos are the better team here.
Now, if they play like they did against Detroit, they aren't better than really anyone in the NFL. When the defense is off like that, this Broncos team is just not built to come from down big like that.
But against the Patriots, they should be able to get back on track. Make no mistake, this game will be a test for the Denver Broncos' offense once again. Bill Belichick's defense is no slouch, and that unit will be well-prepared for this struggling Broncos offense. The Denver defense is going to need to provide the offense with additional possession by creating turnovers.
That's the formula for success for this team.
I think this will be a hard-fought game, but incidentally, it might work in the Broncos' favor to have lost that Detroit game (as badly as they did) to be able to really refocus. Now, it's the Broncos' backs against the wall. I think we'll see them respond in a big way at home on Sunday, improving to 8-7.
Prediction: Broncos win 24-15
Week 17: Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos
Sunday, December 31, 2:25 PM MST
The last time we made predictions for the remainder of the season, Brandon Staley was still the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. That all changed after the Chargers went to Las Vegas and got absolutely pounded -- a 63-21 drubbing at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Keep in mind -- that was a Raiders team that was shut out 3-0 the week before by the Minnesota Vikings.
It might have been a worse game than what we saw from the Broncos against the Miami Dolphins earlier this season.
At any rate, the Chargers are in shambles. You don't ever want to discount any NFL team because at the end of the day, they are all professionals. But this game should be a gimme for the Denver Broncos. You're playing at home against a backup QB, and a team that just fired its coach. The Chargers are beaten and battered, and while they may try to play spoiler, a good team will be able to take care of business in a matchup like this.
Said a little differently, a well-coached team should be able to easily take care of business in a game like this. And I expect the Broncos to take care of business against the Chargers.
Prediction: Broncos win 27-17
Week 18: Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, January 7, Time TBD
The final week of the season will present a unique challenge for the Denver Broncos. Even if the Broncos are able to get to 9-7 after home games against the 3-11 Patriots and 5-9 Chargers, they will face an interesting battle here in Week 18.
The Las Vegas Raiders currently only have a 1 percent shot at making the postseason, but their 63-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers might have sparked some confidence for that team going forward. The Raiders' next game will be against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Indianapolis Colts after that.
Broncos fans will likely be rooting for the Raiders to at least beat the Colts, so this Las Vegas team can actually help Denver before they get in the way in Week 18. And if they somehow find a way to beat the Kansas City Chiefs? Well, the Raiders could actually have a lot to play for here.
At the very least, Antonio Pierce in the head coach's chair makes this team a little dangerous. That Week 18 matchup against Denver will be an opportunity for Pierce to go out on a high note, and will also serve as a chance for the Raiders to keep their long winning streak going against the Broncos. It could also be a chance for Vegas to knock Denver out of the playoffs.
The Denver Broncos' 2023 season could come down to this matchup, and we'll really get a chance to see what this team is made of. I'm going to maintain optimism here.
Prediction: Broncos win 23-20