Lonestar
12-10-2009, 09:43 PM
By Woody Paige
The Denver Post
Posted: 12/10/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
Sunday will be a learning experience for the Broncos.
They don't have to beat the Colts this time, but they'll probably have to beat the Colts sometime this season, next month, in the playoffs.
The Broncos also could go back to Cincinnati or San Diego, or they could even play against the Patriots at New England. And whom do Broncos fanatics cheer for the final month of the regular season? How about the Colts, after Sunday? Or Cincy, Tennessee and the Cowboys? Will you find yourself pulling for Jay Cutler once again?
December is when the NFL gets fun — unless you're living in Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa, Kansas City, Cleveland and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).
Confused? That's why I'm here, to confuse you more.
Life will be simpler for the Broncos if they just win their four remaining games and finish with bookend six-game winning streaks and a 12-4 record. (I predicted 12-4, only backward.) They likely would win the AFC West, be the second seed behind Indy in the AFC and have a bye weekend in the playoffs before being a host for a second- round game — then play at Indianapolis for the conference championship.
If the Broncos win three out of four (this is assuming they beat the Raiders and the Chiefs here), then you must cheer for two teams among Dallas, Cincinnati and Tennessee to beat the Chargers — which could happen — and the Broncos would win the division with the third tiebreaker (common opponents). Ultimately, the Broncos would likely have to return to Indianapolis during the playoffs, at some point.
Chances are the Broncos will end up 10-6 and become one of two wild cards in the AFC, which means playing on the road in Round 1, and winning, to get another shot at Indy.
Of course, the Jax Jags have a 7-5 record, as the next wild-card team behind the Broncos. Four teams (Steelers, Jets, Dolphins, Ravens) still remain in the wild-card chase at 6-6. Either the Ravens or the Steelers will not have a 10-6 record because they play each other.
Jacksonville and Pittsburgh play Miami, so one or two teams will be eliminated there. The Jets play at Indianapolis and against Cincinnati, so forget them. And the Jaguars have the Colts the weekend after the Broncos.
Am I going too fast for you?
So, let's say the Broncos finish 10-6 and get in as a wild card. You don't want the Steelers or the Ravens to be 10-6, because both teams defeated the Broncos and have the head-to-head tiebreaker edge.
The best scenario for a 10-6 Broncos team would be if Miami wins at Jacksonville and at home in the finale against the Steelers, and loses at Tennessee; if the Jets lose at Indy; if the Steelers defeat the Ravens and lose to the Dolphins; or the Ravens lose to the Bears (hello, Jay) and whip the Steelers, and the Jags go South.
Every scenario, though, has the Broncos going back to Indianapolis if they want to keep advancing in the playoffs. There's good news and bad news.
The Broncos have beaten Peyton Manning in the regular season twice — once in Indianapolis (2003) and once in Denver (2004). The bad news is that in both seasons, the Broncos lost playoff games at Indianapolis.
More good news is that the Broncos never have lost at the new Lucas Oil Stadium.
More bad news is that the Colts have won 12 consecutive games at Lucas Oil Stadium, and the Broncos haven't played in the new stadium.
Even if, as expected, they lose this Sunday, the Broncos will learn about the Colts and their stadium — perhaps for the next time, when it really counts.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13965004
The Denver Post
Posted: 12/10/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
Sunday will be a learning experience for the Broncos.
They don't have to beat the Colts this time, but they'll probably have to beat the Colts sometime this season, next month, in the playoffs.
The Broncos also could go back to Cincinnati or San Diego, or they could even play against the Patriots at New England. And whom do Broncos fanatics cheer for the final month of the regular season? How about the Colts, after Sunday? Or Cincy, Tennessee and the Cowboys? Will you find yourself pulling for Jay Cutler once again?
December is when the NFL gets fun — unless you're living in Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa, Kansas City, Cleveland and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).
Confused? That's why I'm here, to confuse you more.
Life will be simpler for the Broncos if they just win their four remaining games and finish with bookend six-game winning streaks and a 12-4 record. (I predicted 12-4, only backward.) They likely would win the AFC West, be the second seed behind Indy in the AFC and have a bye weekend in the playoffs before being a host for a second- round game — then play at Indianapolis for the conference championship.
If the Broncos win three out of four (this is assuming they beat the Raiders and the Chiefs here), then you must cheer for two teams among Dallas, Cincinnati and Tennessee to beat the Chargers — which could happen — and the Broncos would win the division with the third tiebreaker (common opponents). Ultimately, the Broncos would likely have to return to Indianapolis during the playoffs, at some point.
Chances are the Broncos will end up 10-6 and become one of two wild cards in the AFC, which means playing on the road in Round 1, and winning, to get another shot at Indy.
Of course, the Jax Jags have a 7-5 record, as the next wild-card team behind the Broncos. Four teams (Steelers, Jets, Dolphins, Ravens) still remain in the wild-card chase at 6-6. Either the Ravens or the Steelers will not have a 10-6 record because they play each other.
Jacksonville and Pittsburgh play Miami, so one or two teams will be eliminated there. The Jets play at Indianapolis and against Cincinnati, so forget them. And the Jaguars have the Colts the weekend after the Broncos.
Am I going too fast for you?
So, let's say the Broncos finish 10-6 and get in as a wild card. You don't want the Steelers or the Ravens to be 10-6, because both teams defeated the Broncos and have the head-to-head tiebreaker edge.
The best scenario for a 10-6 Broncos team would be if Miami wins at Jacksonville and at home in the finale against the Steelers, and loses at Tennessee; if the Jets lose at Indy; if the Steelers defeat the Ravens and lose to the Dolphins; or the Ravens lose to the Bears (hello, Jay) and whip the Steelers, and the Jags go South.
Every scenario, though, has the Broncos going back to Indianapolis if they want to keep advancing in the playoffs. There's good news and bad news.
The Broncos have beaten Peyton Manning in the regular season twice — once in Indianapolis (2003) and once in Denver (2004). The bad news is that in both seasons, the Broncos lost playoff games at Indianapolis.
More good news is that the Broncos never have lost at the new Lucas Oil Stadium.
More bad news is that the Colts have won 12 consecutive games at Lucas Oil Stadium, and the Broncos haven't played in the new stadium.
Even if, as expected, they lose this Sunday, the Broncos will learn about the Colts and their stadium — perhaps for the next time, when it really counts.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13965004