Mile High Report
Power rankings are funny. You can always tell the difference between those who are unbiased and those who are just waiting to hate on your team’s success. Ironically, its those who put them #1 last week that dropped them the hardest this week, while those who tried to fairly rank them are left pretty much unchanged. Funny how that works out.
Not much changes for the Denver Broncos after their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars anyway. They are still the AFC’s number one seed and have various clinching scenarios again this week. All they need to concern themselves with is winning the next one and if they do, then things get right back on track.
Here is where the Broncos rank heading into Week 17:
The Broncos’ celebrated defense had its hands pretty full with the Jaguars for most of a frustrating day, while Bo Nix and the offense never found that fourth-quarter magic we’re so used to seeing them summon. In a game that felt like a Divisional Round playoff matchup, Jacksonville took a few early punches and fought back hard. Missed tackles were a problem for Denver’s defense. Jags QB Trevor Lawrence took some sacks but also hit some big plays against the blitz. LB Dre Greenlaw’s late injury also bears watching. It was a disappointing result all the way around, especially with the top seed in the AFC there for the taking. Now, even the division is in some doubt. This Thursday’s Christmas night game in Kansas City looks far easier, with both Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew out, but the Week 18 showdown with the Chargers suddenly looms very large.
We’re not going to overreact. Denver is now 11-1 in its past 12 games. Just because the loss came in Week 16 doesn’t mean it should fall in these rankings. As long as the Broncos beat a Chiefs team down to their third quarterback and then beat the Chargers at home in the finale, they’ll be the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Broncos are a very good team, and losing for the first time since Sept. 21 doesn’t change that.
The vaunted defense got shredded by the Jaguars, which was a shock. They have to flush it quickly since they play at Kansas City on Thursday.
Harvey’s 11 total touchdowns (seven rushing, four receiving), lead the team and all rookie position players in the league. The second-round pick is also tied for 13th in scoring, one spot behind Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and one ahead of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. And with J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve (foot) since Week 10, Harvey is without question the team’s RB1.
If they have a playoff rematch with Jacksonville, at least it’ll be seen by more than a sliver of the country.
Basically the AFC’s...
