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5 reasons the Denver Broncos won’t make the AFC Playoffs

By John Buhler

Mar 7, 2016; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning during his retirement announcement press conference at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning during his retirement announcement press conference at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; General view of golden NFL shield logo in the end zone to commemorate Super Bowl 50 during the preseason NFL game between San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; General view of golden NFL shield logo in the end zone to commemorate Super Bowl 50 during the preseason NFL game between San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The great parity of the NFL

Since 2002’s realignment to account for the league’s 32nd franchise in the Texans, the NFL experiences about a five-team playoff turnover margin with each passing season. That means roughly five teams that made the playoffs the year before won’t return to them the following season.

This is a testament to the incredible amount of parity in the league and how close the margin of victory/defeat really is in the NFL. Free agency epitomizes capitalism and the players’ best interests. The NFL Draft is designed to reward bad teams and punish good teams. Outside of a few highly dysfunctional teams in the league, nearly every season poses as an opportunity to do something special on the gridiron and make the NFL Playoffs.

Denver has won the AFC West five straight seasons. The Broncos have had control of the AFC West for half a decade now, but the ascension of both Kansas City and Oakland make it difficult to see Denver six-peating in the AFC West in 2016.

Having a stranglehold on a division is the best way to ensure playoff participation. Teams like the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots have best epitomized that since 2002’s realignment to include the Texans.

For as much as some may doubt this uncanny amount of turnover existing in the NFL, without question four to five teams that made the 2015 NFL Playoffs won’t make them in 2016. For every team that’s on the rise, some team has to be on the fall. Denver has had a miserable March and unless the Broncos have a great 2016 NFL Draft, it’s hard to see this team being better than the Super Bowl Championship team they fielded in 2015.

Though NFC has historically experienced a higher playoff turnover margin than the AFC, Denver has to be one of the few teams in the AFC that could conceivably miss out on the NFL Playoffs after making them the year before in 2015.

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