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With December only a few days away it's time to start thinking playoffs. Well the Broncos are one of two AFC teams that can lock up a playoff spot this weekend. The other AFC team that can lock up a spot in the playoffs this weekend is the Kansas City Chiefs. Of course the Broncos head to Arrowhead this weekend to face the Chiefs.
Denver and Kansas City, which both enter Week 13 with 9-2 records can clinch a playoff berth with a win and some help around the AFC.
Here's the Playoff Scenarios for the Broncos and Chiefs this weekend.
Denver Broncos:
Denver clinches a playoff spot with:
- DEN win, plus SD loss or tie, plus TEN loss or tie, plus NYJ loss, plus BAL loss OR
- DEN win, plus SD loss or tie, plus TEN loss or tie, plus BAL/PIT tie OR
- DEN win, plus SD loss or tie, plus TEN loss or tie, plus MIA/NYJ tie OR
- DEN win, plus SD loss or tie, plus BAL/PIT tie, plus MIA/NYJ tie OR
- DEN win, plus TEN loss or tie, plus BAL/PIT tie, plus MIA/NYJ tie
- Denver controls their own destiny still. If they keep winning they will be fine. The only real logical scenario here is the first one. The Chargers play the Bengals, the Titans play the Colts, the Jets play the Dolphins and the Ravens play the Steelers.
Now If Kansas City somehow wins this weekend, here's their scenarios where they can lock up a playoff spot.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City clinches a playoff spot with:
- KC win, plus SD loss or tie, plus TEN loss or tie, plus NYJ loss, plus BAL loss OR
- KC win, plus SD loss or tie, plus TEN loss or tie, plus MIA loss, plus NE loss OR
- KC win, plus SD loss or tie, plus TEN loss or tie, plus NYJ/MIA tie OR
- KC win, plus SD loss or tie, plus TEN loss or tie, plus BAL/PIT tie OR
- KC win, plus SD loss or tie, plus MIA loss, plus NE loss, plus BAL/PIT tie OR
- KC win, plus SD loss or tie, plus MIA/NYJ tie, plus BAL/PIT tie OR
- KC win, plus TEN loss or tie, plus MIA/NYJ tie, plus BAL/PIT tie
- The Chiefs have two logical scenarios that could play out for them this weekend. The first one is identical with the Broncos. They would need a win, and a Chargers, Titans, Jets, and Baltimore loss. The second one they would need a win, and a Chargers, Titans, Miami and New England loss.
If you want to mess with all the playoff scenarios for every team I recommend ESPN's Playoff Machine. You can project every teams win and losses for the final month of the season, and it shows how that effects playoffs/seeding for the AFC/NFC.