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After the Philidelphia Eagles upset the New England Patriots last Sunday and the Denver Broncos defeated the San Diego Chargers, they moved into the number two seed in the AFC. With a win on Sunday and a loss by the Cincinnati Bengals, the Broncos can be in first place in the AFC on Sunday Night.
As @Skotty_Payne noted, Broncos can move into first place in AFC playoff race this weekend with a win plus a Steelers win over Bengals.
— Jon Heath (@JonHeathNFL) December 10, 2015
The Bengals host their division rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in what figures to be another hard fought AFC North battle between the two teams.
The Broncos currently hold the second seed in the AFC and have the same record as the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots. The three teams will be battling for home field advantage and a first-round bye during the final weeks of the 2015 NFL Season.
So let's take a look at the remaining schedule of all three teams.
Denver Broncos:
Week 14: Oakland Raiders (5-7)
Week 15: at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)
Week:16: Cincinnati Bengals (10-2)
Week 17: San Diego Chargers (3-9)
The Broncos end the season with three home games which should play into their favor. The Broncos have one of the better home records in the NFL over the past decade.
What does worry me is back to back games against two AFC North teams. Both teams will be tough matchups for the banged up Broncos, and pose the toughest challenges for the Broncos before the postseason begins. Also, the matchup against the Bengals could be for the number one overall seed in the AFC. So that will be a matchup to keep an eye on
Cincinnati Bengals:
Week 14: Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)
Week 15: at Cleveland Browns (2-10)
Week:16: at Denver Broncos (10-2)
Week 17: Baltimore Ravens (4-8)
The Bengals finish out the season with three games against their division rivals. Fortunately for them, two of those three teams are the two-win Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens who are down to their third-string quarterback.
The games against the Steelers and Broncos will be the big games for the Bengals. If they win, they're set for the number one seed. If they lose, they're probably playing wildcard weekend.
New England Patriots:
Week 14: at Houston Texans (6-6)
Week 15: Tennessee Titans (3-9)
Week:16: New York Jets (7-5)
Week 17: at Miami Dolphins (5-7)
The Patriots have the easiest schedule of the three teams. While the Texans and Jets figure to be tough matchups for the Patriots, they should come away with the victory against those two. It would be shocking to see the Titans and Dolphins to pull an upset against the mighty Patriots, but stranger things have happened.
What the Patriots have going for them is that they're getting healthy at the right time. Tight End Rob Gronkowski figures to return either this week or next weekend, and wide receiver Danny Amendola returned to practice for the first time since his injury today.
All signs point to the Patriots winning out.
Horse Tracks:
Mile High Sports on Denver 8: "Debuts" with Shane Ray and Emmanuel Mudiay | Mile High Sports
Ware ready to return and take advantage of golden opportunity | Mile High Sports
DeMarcus Ware's return to the field is coming at the perfect time for not only the team, but for his aging body.
Grading the last five Denver Broncos draft classes | Mile High Sports
Let's take a look back at the Denver Broncos draft classes that helped build the team we see today
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Redskins sign veteran running back Pierre Thomas - NFL.com
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Bold predictions: Todd Gurley gets back on track - NFL.com
St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley has struggled of late. But will the NFL Rookie of the Year candidate regain his early season form on Sunday? Our Around The NFL prognosticators think so.
Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer second guesses final play call against Arizona Cardinals
Mike Zimmer said the Vikings "probably could have called something else" on the play that resulted in Teddy Bridgewater's game-ending fumble against the Cardinals.
Devin Taylor of Detroit Lions not fined for face mask on Aaron Rodgers
Officials called a face mask on Detroit Lions defensive end Devin Taylor late in the Green Bay game -- leading to a 61-yard game winner for the Packers -- but the NFL did not fine Taylor for it.
Brandin Cooks expected to play for New Orleans Saints
Brandin Cooks clarified Friday that he did not suffer a concussion last weekend but was in fact tested for one. He has since cleared the protocol and is expected to play Sunday at Tampa Bay.
Appeals court grants stay allowing DraftKings, FanDuel to continue operating in New York
An appellate court judge on Friday gave the two major daily fantasy sites an emergency temporary stay that will allow them to accept entries from New Yorkers.
NFL says Mark Ingram flag was for choreographed celebration, not throwing football | ProFootballTalk
After Saints running back Mark Ingram scored a touchdown on Sunday, he threw the football against the wall near the end zone in celebration. The ball then ricocheted off the wall and hit a stadium worker standing nearby.
Week 14 injury report roundup | ProFootballTalk
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League acknowledges officiating changes are being considered for postseason | ProFootballTalk
On Friday morning, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hinted that the league may use increased technology to support the officiating function during the 2015 postseason. The NFL has separately confirmed that improvements are possible.
Goodell hints at increased use of technology for 2015 postseason officiating | ProFootballTalk
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Revis practices fully, has to pass one more test to play | ProFootballTalk
Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis said Thursday that he's playing against the Titans this weekend, but that's not quite official yet. There isn't the same wiggle room for players in the concussion protocol that there is with other injuries, leaving Revis in need of clearance from a neurologist befor...
Reggie Bush is still "strongly considering" lawsuit over knee injury | ProFootballTalk
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New Concussion commercials incorporate NFL game footage | ProFootballTalk
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Falcons place Matt Bryant on injured reserve | ProFootballTalk
The Falcons ruled kicker Matt Bryant out of Sunday's game on Friday and then later ruled him out for the rest of the season as well. The team announced that Bryant has been placed on injured reserve with the quad injury that kept him from playing the last two weeks.