Broncos: 3 games Russell Wilson will have to win with his arm

1. Week 16: at Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, Dec. 25)

Merry Christmas! The Broncos will have to face the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in the house that Stan Kroenke’s Wal-Mart money built on Dec. 25. This game will not only be on Nickelodeon, but it will fall right smack dab in the middle of the Broncos’ absolute gauntlet of a season-ending slate. With dates with the Chiefs and Bolts coming up, they have to win this.

The last thing the Broncos will want to do is carry some bad energy from a Rams road defeat into the new year. Frankly, every game for the Broncos after the Week 12 road date at the Carolina Panthers should be viewed as a playoff game. Though these contending teams on their schedule still have to play the Broncos, Denver needs to at least split these six games to make the playoffs.

Of the three road dates in question (at Baltimore Ravens, at Rams, at Chiefs), this is probably the most winnable one. Though the Baltimore Ravens may be the worst of these three teams, Ravens Flock will have M&T Bank Stadium packed to the gill. Even if the Rams won a Super Bowl, Wilson has to take advantage of a so-so home crowd to hang tough with Matthew Stafford and the boys.

By beating the Rams in their stadium, it would signify that the Broncos can in fact beat anyone.