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Standings
|
Team |
Seed |
Record |
AFC |
Tiebreakers |
Remaining |
|
1 |
10-2 |
6-2 |
KC/AFC West |
TEN, SD, HOU, OAK |
|
|
2 |
9-3 |
6-2 |
DEN |
CLE, MIA, BAL, BUF |
|
|
3 |
8-4 |
6-2 |
DEN |
CIN, HOU, KC, JAX |
|
|
4 |
8-4 |
6-3 |
NE |
IND, PIT, MIN, BAL |
|
|
5 |
9-3 |
6-3 |
None |
WAS, OAK, IND, SD |
|
|
6 |
6-6 |
6-4 |
MIA, CIN (so far) |
MIN, DET, NE, CIN |
|
|
7 |
6-6 |
5-3 |
CIN |
PIT, NE, BUF, NYJ |
*Home games in bold
The Broncos control their own destiny for the #1 seed. Win out and the road to the Super Bowl comes through Denver. Manning and company better be careful however, because one slip up and it gives the control back to New England who owns the head to head tie-breaker.
Likewise the Patriots have to be careful because Cincinnati owns the head to head tiebreaker over them. Next week the Colts and Bengals will meet for control of the #3 seed. Both of these teams hold comfortable edges in their division, though there is an outside change that Baltimore can overtake Cincinnati in the North.
The Chiefs are virtually locked into that #5 seed after being swept by the Broncos. Denver owns the head to head and divisional tiebreaker over the Chiefs meaning that some combination of +2 would have to occur in the Chiefs favor (four Chiefs wins, two Broncos losses). The magic number for Denver to clinch the west is three. Any combination of Broncos wins or Chiefs losses that add up to three will crown the Broncos champions.
The #6 seed seems to have become a two team race between Baltimore and Miami. Baltimore is #6 right now because they defeated Miami earlier in the regular season.
Denver's magic number to clinch the AFC West is 3. Any combination of Broncos wins and Chiefs losses that add up to 3 will guarantee the Broncos a third straight AFC West Division Championship.
Beyond that, the Broncos could guarantee themselves a first round playoff bye and at worst a #2 seed by winning three of their last four. They could guarantee themselves the #1 seed by winning their remaining four games.
GO BRONCOS!!!
