Somehow we are already halfway through the season. Seems like we were just playing the Panthers in week 1, but here we are. Here is where things stand at the moment:
AFC West:
Raiders 6-2 (1-1)
Broncos 6-2 (1-1)
Chiefs 5-2 (2-0)
Chargers 3-5 (1-3)
AFC:
1. Patriots 7-1
2. Raiders 6-2
3. Texans 5-3
4. Steelers 4-3
5. Broncos 6-2
6. Chiefs 5-2
Broncos remaining schedule:
@ Oakland
@ New Orleans
BYE
vs. Kansas City
@ Jacksonville
@ Tennessee
vs. New England
@ Kansas City
vs. Oakland
It's definitely been an interesting first half of the season, but I feel pretty happy to be sitting at 6-2. The AFC wound up being the group of death this year in the NFL, so we have very little margin for error. This game at Oakland next week is our biggest game of the year. Whoever wins will be in the driver's seat for the division. After that, we have a winnable stretch of games that we really need to take advantage of. I think we will have to go at least 11-5 to win the division and more likely 12-4.
So how does everyone feel about the team at the halfway point and how do you see us doing over the back half of the schedule? I, personally, see us going 11-5 with losses at Oakland, vs New England, and at KC. I think we will need to flip one of those two divisional games in our favor to win the division, but I don't see it happening at this point. Worst case I see us very safely in the wildcard though. I'd be really shocked if the AFCW doesn't get 2 teams in. Every other division in the AFC is trash past the division leaders this year.