Lonestar
12-15-2009, 04:18 PM
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By The Denver Post
Posted: 12/15/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
Chargers QB Philip Rivers (Denver Post file photo)It's becoming clearer which teams the Broncos will have to hold off — or overcome, depending on your optimism — to qualify for the NFL playoffs.
With three weeks remaining, the Broncos are two games behind surging San Diego, and an automatic playoff berth, in the AFC West. But Denver leads all contenders in the AFC wild-card race.
There are four teams with a legitimate shot at catching the Broncos (8-5) in the conference standings: Jacksonville (7-6), Baltimore (7-6), Miami (7-6) and the New York Jets (7-6).
Pittsburgh (6-7), Tennessee (6-7) and Houston (6-7) also could contend with some serious help.
The most likely scenario sees the Broncos earning the top wild-card berth, which would set them up to face New England (8-5) in the first round. Of course, that scenario requires the Patriots, losers of two of their past three games, not to collapse down the stretch.
The list of AFC contenders, with remaining games:
Clinched:
Indianapolis ... 13-0 ... at Jacksonville, N.Y. Jets, at Buffalo
Leading divisions:
San Diego ... 10-3 ... Cincinnati, at Tennessee, Washington
Cincinnati ... 9-4 ... at San Diego, Kansas City, at N.Y. Jets
New England ... 8-5 ... at Buffalo, Jacksonville, at Houston
Wild cards:
Denver ... 8-5 ... Oakland, at Philadelphia, Kansas City
Jacksonville ... 7-6 ... Indianapolis, at New England, at Cleveland
Chasing:
Baltimore ... 7-6 ... Chicago, at Pittsburgh, at Oakland
Miami ... 7-6 ... at Tennessee, Houston, Pittsburgh
N.Y. Jets ... 7-6 ... Atlanta, at Indianapolis, Cincinnati
Also:
Pittsburgh ... 6-7 ... Green Bay, Baltimore, at Miami
Tennessee ... 6-7 ... Miami, San Diego, at Seattle
Houston ... 6-7 ... at St. Louis, at Miami, New England
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13998303
By The Denver Post
Posted: 12/15/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
Chargers QB Philip Rivers (Denver Post file photo)It's becoming clearer which teams the Broncos will have to hold off — or overcome, depending on your optimism — to qualify for the NFL playoffs.
With three weeks remaining, the Broncos are two games behind surging San Diego, and an automatic playoff berth, in the AFC West. But Denver leads all contenders in the AFC wild-card race.
There are four teams with a legitimate shot at catching the Broncos (8-5) in the conference standings: Jacksonville (7-6), Baltimore (7-6), Miami (7-6) and the New York Jets (7-6).
Pittsburgh (6-7), Tennessee (6-7) and Houston (6-7) also could contend with some serious help.
The most likely scenario sees the Broncos earning the top wild-card berth, which would set them up to face New England (8-5) in the first round. Of course, that scenario requires the Patriots, losers of two of their past three games, not to collapse down the stretch.
The list of AFC contenders, with remaining games:
Clinched:
Indianapolis ... 13-0 ... at Jacksonville, N.Y. Jets, at Buffalo
Leading divisions:
San Diego ... 10-3 ... Cincinnati, at Tennessee, Washington
Cincinnati ... 9-4 ... at San Diego, Kansas City, at N.Y. Jets
New England ... 8-5 ... at Buffalo, Jacksonville, at Houston
Wild cards:
Denver ... 8-5 ... Oakland, at Philadelphia, Kansas City
Jacksonville ... 7-6 ... Indianapolis, at New England, at Cleveland
Chasing:
Baltimore ... 7-6 ... Chicago, at Pittsburgh, at Oakland
Miami ... 7-6 ... at Tennessee, Houston, Pittsburgh
N.Y. Jets ... 7-6 ... Atlanta, at Indianapolis, Cincinnati
Also:
Pittsburgh ... 6-7 ... Green Bay, Baltimore, at Miami
Tennessee ... 6-7 ... Miami, San Diego, at Seattle
Houston ... 6-7 ... at St. Louis, at Miami, New England
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13998303