NFL playoff picture 2014: Broncos don't get the help they need

The Patriots look to have survived the AFC East; the Chargers are in win-and-they're-in mode, and the Chiefs need some help to keep their fading playoff hopes alive.

By kmonty Dec 22, 2014, 9:30am MST

The worst news of a dramatic Week 16 NFL Sunday for Denver Broncos fans happened in the AFC East, where the New England Patriots came back to beat the New York Jets, and the Buffalo Bills lost to the lowly Oakland Raiders.

The Bills' loss knocked them out of playoff contention, meaning that instead of putting the pressure on themselves and Tom Brady to potentially pull off an AFC East upset in Week 17, they'll be playing with one foot out the door and toward their respective living rooms. (I can't imagine Kyle Orton rallying his Buffalo troops for what amounts to nothing, can you?)

In other words: the Patriots will almost surely win out and lock up the first seed in the playoffs, leaving the Broncos to win one more game this year and lock up Seed #2. Damn you, Oakland. Damn you, New York.

The road to the Super Bowl looks like it will go through New England in 2014.

Damn you, Foxboro.

Here's your updated AFC Playoff picture.

AFC Playoff Picture
Seed	Team		Record
1		New England Patriots	12-3
2		Denver Broncos	11-3
3		Cincinnati Bengals	9-4-1
4		Indianapolis Colts	10-5
5		Pittsburgh Steelers	10-5
6		San Diego Chargers	9-6
-		Baltimore Ravens	9-6
-		Houston Texans	8-7
-		Kansas City Chiefs	8-7