The Broncos’ three-game losing streak heading in the final quarter of the season creates a mathematical quandary.
Going into the final four games, Denver is one of five teams fighting for the final two playoff spots in the AFC. With all four AFC division titles close to being secured and no team at 6-6, it appears the final two playoff spots will come out of the 7-5 cluster the Broncos are in, along with Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Kansas City and the New York Jets.
That means five teams for two spots and many convoluted tiebreakers to go by the time the mess clears on New Year’s Eve. This is one headache that starts before the parties begin.
“It’s so complicated, but that’s the way it is,” Broncos tight end Stephen Alexander said. “We just have to go out and win.”
Three ago weeks, the Broncos were 7-2 and legitimate threats for a first-round playoff bye. Now, they must emerge from the Cluster of Five.
“We can’t worry about it,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “We just have to worry about ourselves.”
But four other teams will have something to say about it.
NFL reporter Bill Williamson breaks down the cases for and against five AFC teams with 7-5 records competing for two wild-card playoff berths:
Cincinnati
Get your playoff tickets: None of the 7-5 teams is playing better than the Bengals. They have won three consecutive games after a midseason blowup. Quarterback Carson Palmer and receiver Chad Johnson make an explosive tandem. The defense suddenly has come alive, allowing seven points combined in the past two games. Few weak spots are apparent now.
Wait ’til next year: If this team were perfect, it wouldn’t have slumped, losing four out of five games in the middle of the season. If the Bengals can slump in the middle of the season, they could slump late, too. The Bengals must at least split tough road contests at Indianapolis and the Broncos in their 14th and 15th games.
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Sunday Oakland
Dec. 18 at Indianapolis
Dec. 24 at Denver
Dec. 31 Pittsburgh
Denver
Get your playoff tickets: Three of the final four games appear winnable for the Broncos. Their final road game is at 3-9 Arizona next week, with two home games to finish the season. The Denver running game appears to be back on track, and the defense is capable of dominating, as it showed in the first six games of the season.
Wait ’til next year: Rookie quarterback Jay Cutler looked like a rookie in his debut. Falling at heavily favored San Diego on Sunday would give the Broncos four consecutive losses for the first time since the first four games of the 1999 season. Although the rest of the schedule is favorable, it would be a difficult mental challenge to come off a four-game losing streak and start a three-game winning streak.
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Sunday at San Diego
Dec. 17 at Arizona
Dec. 24 Cincinnati
Dec. 31 San Francisco
Jacksonville
Get your playoff tickets: Quarterback David Garrard is playing well, and the team has good, young receivers. The defense is stout, especially against the run. The Jaguars are 5-1 at home and are allowing only single-digit scoring there. Their two toughest games, against the Colts and Patriots, are at Jacksonville.
Wait ’til next year: The Jaguars are too wishy-washy. They haven’t shown the ability to go on a roll, which is required for a December playoff run. Jacksonville hasn’t won more than two games in a row this season. In its past five games, it has won, lost, won, lost and won. Not good enough. The Jaguars’ remaining schedule also will be tough for this inconsistent team.
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Sunday Indianapolis
Dec. 17 at Tennessee
Dec. 24 New England
Dec. 31 at Kansas City
Kansas City
Get your playoff tickets: The offense is explosive, as always. Larry Johnson is good enough to carry the team in the final four games. Running games win down the stretch, and none of the other 7-5 teams has a rusher like Johnson. Quarterback Trent Green continues to shake off the rust from his long layoff. The Chiefs’ defense no longer is a major liability.
Wait ’til next year: The Chiefs could be knocked out of the hunt, falling to 7-7 in the next two weeks, at home against division leader Baltimore and on the road at division leader San Diego. The Chiefs will have to play great to beat both teams. Although the defense is better, an upset loss at Cleveland on Sunday showed it can be had. There are stars on this team, but it’s not deep enough to make a big run.
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Sunday Baltimore
Dec. 17 at San Diego
Dec. 23 at Oakland
Dec. 31 Jacksonville
New York Jets
Get your playoff tickets: If the Jets just show up, they could register 10 wins. Although each of the other 7-5 teams will play at least one AFC division leader, the Jets play four games against teams with losing records. The Jets may be favorites in all four games. The road to the playoffs is paved.
Wait ’til next year: The Jets are the least-talented of these five teams. They are improved and heading in the right direction, but this is not a playoff-quality team. New York’s offense is shaky.
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Sunday Buffalo
Dec. 17 at Minnesota
Dec. 25 at Miami
Dec. 31 Oakland
