Mile High Sports
The Denver Broncos playoff probability continues to improve as the season goes on.
Last week, Denver had a 52% chance of ending their eight-year postseason drought before they played the Falcons. But the Broncos’ blowout win over Atlanta Sunday, coupled with a Cincinnati Bengals loss, means Denver is even more likely to make the playoffs.
With six regular season games remaining, the Broncos still have to take care of business. But they control their own destiny.
In the NFL playoff picture, most of the contenders are set.
In the AFC, the Chiefs, Bills, Steelers, and Texans each lead their divisions and have a 98% or better chance to make the postseason. The Chargers (7-3) are in fifth, and the Ravens (7-4) are sixth currently. And each have 90% or better chances to make it in.
Similarly in the NFC, the Lions and Eagles are near-locks, and so are the Vikings, who are the fifth seed for now. The Cardinals (6-4) have to fight because every other team in the NFC West is 5-5. The Falcons (73%), Packers (82%), and Commanders (82%) all have a great shot of getting in, too.
Outside of that NFC West battle, the fight for the No. 7 seed in the AFC is the stiffest competition.
And right now, the Broncos are in the driver’s seat.
Their 38-6 victory over the Falcons–in which Bo Nix set an NFL record by throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns on 80% completions–increased the Denver Broncos playoff probability by 16%.
Now, thanks to that convincing win, the Broncos have a 68% chance of making the playoffs. The Colts are on the bubble at 30%. Behind them are the Dolphins and Bengals, each at 9%.
Cincinnati (4-7) fumbled away their hopes by losing late to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Bengals came back from down 21 points to tie the game, but missed two field goals late and J.K. Dobbins cemented the win for LA. And Indy (5-6) stayed alive by edging out the Jets 28-27. Today, the Jets fired their GM Joe Douglas.
Of note: The Athletic gives Denver a 48% chance, with Miami (27%), Indianapolis (25%), and Cincy (18%) behind them.
On ESPN, the Denver Broncos playoff probability is 51%, Indy is closest behind at 33%, while Miami (15%), and Cincy (13%) follow.
The last time Denver played a playoff game was in February, 2016 and Super Bowl 50. The good news is, the Broncos won that game, Peyton Manning’s last. It was the franchise’s third Super Bowl win and third Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The bad news is, that was nearly a decade ago. It’s the longest playoff drought in the history of the franchise since they joined the NFL in 1970. (Note: They went 17 total seasons without a postseason berth, but their first 10 years were in the American Football League.)
Ending that drought this year would be...
