Mile High Report
The Broncos just played their final weekend of football in October, and the calendars will turn to November the next time they take the field. We are 8 games into the 2025 NFL season, and at the mid-point of the season, so it’s a good time to take an early look at the AFC playoff picture.
As it stands right now, the Denver Broncos are the number 3 seed in the AFC behind the 7-1 Colts (a team they should have beaten) and the upstart 6-2 New England Patriots. Again, it is very early, but in the past, we have been talking about draft order instead of playoff seeding this time of the year, so I will take it.
With teams like the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens having some struggles this year, some more than others, the AFC looks a bit different than anticipated right now. The Colts sit at the top with a 7-1 record and have been playing really good football. Daniel Jones looks elite, while Jonathan Taylor is the top candidate for the Offensive Player of the Year award. They don’t look like a team that will be slowing down anytime soon.
After the Colts, you have the Patriots (is it 2005 again?), led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye. This is just as surprising as the Colts, but like them, they are playing really good football and are currently ahead of the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. Like the Colts, they don’t seem like a team that will be slowing down anytime soon.
In the third seed, you have our Denver Broncos. They are a leverage penalty away from 7-1 and a better 4th quarter away from 8-0, but currently sit with a 6-2 record in the midst of a five-game win streak. They have one of the best defenses in the league, and Bo Nix and their offense seem to be figuring things out. They have proven they can contend with anyone they play and can’t be counted out as a team that can make a deep postseason run.
After these 3 teams, things get a bit murky. The Steelers have a 4-3 record, but have the 3-5 Bengals and the 2-5 Ravens not far behind. The Steelers have control of the AFC North right now, but that division is far from settled. Your three wild card teams are the 5-2 Bills and the 5-3 Chargers. Both teams have looked good this year, but have also lost some games you wouldn’t have expected them to lose. They are led by Josh Allen and Justin Herbert and figure to be in the mix throughout the season. Then you have the 4-3 Jacksonville Jaguars at the 7th seed, and, in my personal opinion, I don’t think they are a playoff team and will probably end up on the outside looking in.
One team we haven’t talked about yet is the Kansas City Chiefs. They play tonight vs. the Commanders, a game they likely will win and improve...
