Ain't no Way

This isn't 2011---we don't have the Teebs behind center to lead our offense to an anemic 3 points. We aren't facing a salty QB felt screwed over by the entire situation. These aren't two evenly matched teams in any way shape or form and mark my words Broncos Country----We WILL win next week!!! So good for me right? Easy to predict a predictable outcome. But that's only where the fun begins my friends----let's delve into the AFC Playoff Race as it stands and take a thorough look on the maybe's in play next week.

AFC Playoff Standings

Texans	12-3	10-1	@ IND
Broncos	12-3	9-2	KC
Patsies	11-4	10-1	Miami
Ravens	10-5	8-3	@Cincy
Colts	10-5	7-4	HOU
Bengals	9-6	6-5	BAL

Clinching Scenarios for the #1 seed:

Houston:

- Win OR both a Denver AND NE loss.

Denver:

- Win AND a HOU loss

NE:

- Win AND HOU/Denver Loss

Clinching Scenarios for the #2 seed:

Houston:

- Loss + Denver win + NE loss

Denver:

- Win OR NE loss

NE:

- Win AND Denver Loss

As we can see, both Houston and Denver control their own destiny in week 17. A win for either team ensures a first round bye---Denver can claim home field throughout the AFC playoffs with a Win and Houston loss. NE needs help as they need to win and hope either Denver or Houston loses. If Denver wins, NE only has a shot at the #2 seed with a Houston loss.

Clinching Scenarios for the #3 seed:

Houston:

Loss + NE win + Denver win

Denver:

Loss + NE win

NE:

Loss OR HOU win + Denver win

BAL:

Win + NE loss

Clinching Scenarios for the #4 seed:

NE:

Loss + BAL win

BAL:

Loss OR NE win

Clinching Scenarios for the #5 seed:

From what I can tell, even an IND loss and CIN tie would mean IND retains the #5 seed due to record against common opponents. Again, I'm speculating the math here a bit but I think the #5 and #6 seeds are set. With this stuff out of the way, I'm going to map out three different scenarios for our Broncos.

Broncos as the #1 seed

That would mean that Houston lost. In this scenario I'm also going to assume that NE takes care of business at home against Miami. That would yield the following positions:

1) Denver

2) NE

3) Houston

4) Baltimore

5) Indy

6) Cincy

That would mean a wild card slate of Cincy at Houston (a rematch from last year) and Indy at Baltimore. The following week we would host Baltimore, Indy, or Cincy, depending on who was the lowest remaining seed. In this scenario, a rematch with NE wouldn't happen until championship Sunday.

Broncos as the #2 seed

That would mean a Houston and Denver victory or a NE loss. Lots of scenarios to play out here, but most likely you have Houston and Denver at #1 and #2 with NE or BAL at #3 and #4

1) Houston

2) Denver

3) NE

4) BAL

5) IND

6) Cincy

or

1) Houston

2) Denver

3) BAL

4) NE

5) IND

6) Cincy

Wildcard weekend in the first one would see Cincy @ NE and IND @ BAL, in the second one it would see Cincy @ BAL and IND @ NE. The first one would be more likely to see a Den/NE matchup in the divisional round while a Bal/Den matchup would be more likely in the second scenario.

Denver as a #3 seed

Ain't No Way mofo's!!!!

As a fan, I would love to see the Texans lose, both us and NE win and for Denver to be #1 and NE to be #2. This would set up a date at home with the evil empire and prissy Mr. Gisele in the AFC Championship for the right to play in the SB.

Whatever happens, the Broncos WILL have a first round bye---now if you want homefield throughout, it's time to root for Indy and Andrew Luck next week.

What say you MHR---which scenarios would you like to see most come playoff time? LET'S DISCUSS---GO BRONCOS!!!