5 NFL teams who benefit the most from expanded playoff field

On team that many people feel will take the proverbial leap forward this year is the Denver Broncos. After missing out on the AFC playoffs the last four years after winning Super Bowl 50, Denver finally has a team strong enough to be a top-half team in the AFC. As long as second-year quarterback Drew Lock progresses, the Broncos can definitely be a Wild Card team.

No, they’re not winning the AFC West because that division firmly belongs to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the Broncos are poised to be the second-place finisher in that division ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers for another year. One would think a second-place finish in the AFC West would translate into a Wild Card berth.

Had the playoff field stayed at six teams in both conferences, one could still argue the Broncos would be good enough to nab either the No. 5 or the No. 6 seed in the AFC. By adding a seventh playoff spot, this gives the Broncos another bite at the playoff apple, one they’re not going miss out on this fall.

After a rough 0-4 start, the Broncos went 7-5 under first-year head coach Vic Fangio. General manager John Elway has made plenty of quality draft selections in the last three drafts for that to finally translate into playoff appearances. The Broncos had been a fixture in the postseason for years up until recently. It’s time the buck the trend and get back to where they belong.