Broncos’ Playoff Odds Rest on Four Key Games

Has there been a more up-and-down team in the NFL this season than the Denver Broncos? 

Denver started the season hot, winning its first three games, but it came crashing back down to earth, losing four straight and presumably falling out of the playoff race in the AFC. 

However, the Broncos have quietly made things interesting over the past four weeks, going 3-1 and taking games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Football Team to move to 6-5. 

Yes, Denver was blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles, but the team’s Week 12 win over the Chargers gave it a path to a playoff berth, and maybe even an AFC West title. 

The Broncos are just a game behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the division, and they will face Kansas City twice over the final six games of the season, including in Week 13. WynnBET has the Broncos as a 10-point underdog in that matchup, but the Chiefs are just 1-5 against the spread as a home favorite this year. 

So what path can Denver follow to a playoff berth? It starts, and ends, with the AFC West. 

Broncos Remaining Schedule for 2021 Season

• Week 13: @ Kansas City Chiefs
• Week 14: vs. Detroit Lions
• Week 15: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
• Week 16: @ Las Vegas Raiders
• Week 17: @ Los Angeles Chargers
• Week 18: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Broncos’ Playoff Chances Will Come Down to Division Games

Denver honestly can’t ask for a better chance to control its own destiny, as it has four games against the division, including two against the leading Chiefs. 

The game against winless Detroit at home should be a win, but the Broncos will need to at least split their remaining AFC West games to have a real shot at a postseason berth. The Broncos are 1-1 against the division this season, but they have shown that they can run the ball to win games. 

Denver dominated the Chargers on the ground in Week 12, and the Chiefs (allowing 4.6 yards per carry) can be attacked in a similar fashion. Winning division games helps Denver in multiple ways, as it separates it in the AFC West, but it will also help it knock off the Chargers and Raiders as playoff contenders. 

The AFC Playoff Picture Is Loaded

Denver is on the outside looking in at the moment, but with three 7-4 teams, three 6-5 teams and two 6-6 teams, there is still plenty of movement that is going to happen in this playoff race. 

Denver has five games against teams in this range to end the season, and while that could be a negative, it does allow it to control its own destiny. If the Broncos can win at least four of their remaining six games, there’s a good chance that they’ll be able to sneak into at least a wild card spot because they’d be knocking off other teams in the race.