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|
Team |
W-L |
Seed |
Division |
AFC |
Remaining |
|
9-3 |
1 |
2-1 |
6-2 |
@SD, MIA, @NYJ, BUF |
|
|
9-3 |
2 |
4-0 |
6-1 |
BUF, @SD, @CIN, OAK |
|
|
8-3-1 |
3 |
2-1 |
5-3 |
PIT, @CLE, @CIN, @PIT |
|
|
8-4 |
4 |
4-0 |
6-3 |
@CLE, HOU, @DAL, @TEN |
|
|
8-4 |
5 |
2-2 |
6-3 |
NE, DEN, @SF, @KC |
|
|
7-5 |
6 |
2-2 |
6-3 |
@CIN, @ATL, KC, CIN |
|
|
7-5 |
7 |
1-3 |
5-4 |
@AZ, OAK, @PIT, SD |
|
|
7-5 |
7 |
3-2 |
4-5 |
@DEN, GB, @OAK, @NE |
|
|
7-5 |
7 |
2-2 |
4-5 |
IND, CIN, @CAR, @BAL |
|
|
7-5 |
7 |
2-3 |
3-5 |
@MIA, JAX, @HOU, CLE |
|
|
6-5 |
*** |
2-1 |
5-3 |
@NYJ, BAL, @NE, MIN, NYJ |
Broncos have inside track on AFC West, 1st round bye
Denver pulled into a percentage tie with the Patriots for the best record in the AFC. Due to a head to head loss however, they sit just behind the Patriots who occupy the #1 seed. Both have some challenges to end the season with the Broncos facing a three game stretch against opponents alive in the playoff race including two on the road against the Chargers and Bengals.
For the Broncos to surpass NE, they will need to win out and hope New England drops one. On a side note, wasn't it nice to see the Patriots have to play a quality opponent on the road for a change?
Patriots still in drivers seat
Win out or have the Broncos/Bengals stumble and the road to the Super bowl goes through Foxboro. New England owns head to head tie breakers over the Broncos, Bengals, and Colts. Any scenario where there is a three or more team tie for a spot would negate the head to head tiebreaker and highlight the conference record tie breaker.
Logjam at the bottom
There are five teams with a 7-5 record at the bottom of the AFC standings. At the moment, the Steelers occupy the #6 seed by virtue of the conference record tiebreaker. With a win tomorrow night against the Jets, Miami would leapfrog everyone and occupy the #6 seed for the next week.
This is a race that will go down to the final week of the season.
Broncos next
The Denver Broncos will host Kyle Orton and the Buffalo Bills next week at home. Buffalo is in the playoff hunt, and Kyle Orton has always played well against his former team.
Chargers next
Their next game has plenty of implications for the Broncos. Win and the Broncos could leapfrog NE for the #1 seed. Lose, and the Broncos would be that much closer to securing a 4th straight AFC West crown.
A Charger win would go a long way toward positioning the Broncos for the #1 seed, so for this week and this week only, count me a Chargers fan.
Who do you think will win the #1 seed in the AFC?