Following a 41-32 win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football, the Denver Broncos improved to 8-5 and they remain the seventh and final playoff seed in the AFC.
Results elsewhere in Week 13 were mixed. The Miami Dolphins (5-7) lost on Thanksgiving and the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) lost on Sunday, but the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) and Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) won this week.
The Broncos will play the Colts, Chargers and Bengals right after their bye, so Denver controls its playoff fate. As Andrew Mason of DenverSports.com has pointed out, if the Broncos beat the Colts in Week 15, Denver will need just one more victory and one Dolphins loss to clinch a playoff berth.
Here’s a look at AFC’s playoff picture following Week 13.
AFC Playoff Picture
- Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
- Buffalo Bills (10-2)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Houston Texans (8-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
- Denver Broncos (8-5)
In the Hunt
- Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
- Miami Dolphins (5-7)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
And here’s where we stand with the AFC Playoff Picture pic.twitter.com/lrap89vRQ3
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 2, 2024
So, what are the Broncos’ chances of reaching the postseason?
The Athletic gives Denver a 79% chance of reaching the playoffs. ESPN has given the team a 76% chance. DVOA has the most optimistic outlook, giving the Broncos an 82.5% chance to reach the postseason.
Denver will now have a bye in Week 14 before hosting the Colts in Week 15. The Broncos will then have back-to-back road games against the Chargers and Bengals before hosting the Chiefs in their season finale.
