The Road Ahead for the Broncos

After the debacle against the Raiders this week, the Broncos have put themselves in a precarious position.  With a win against the hapless Oakland team, the Broncos could have essentially secured the AFC West crown.  Now, keeping in the tradition of recent Shanahan lead teams, the Broncos have ‘made it interesting’.

Let’s have a look at the coming weeks:

Week 13
Broncos (6-5) vs Jets
Chargers (4-7) vs Atlanta

I think the Chargers have a better shot at beating Atlanta then the Broncos do the Jets.  However, given that the Broncos have played well on the Road, I am willing to call this one a push.  Both AFC West teams will lose this week.  The 2 game lead continues.

Week 14
Broncos (6-6) vs Chiefs
Chargers (4-8) vs Raiders

Coming off a two game losing streak, the Broncos face a dismal KC team.  The embarrassment of being swept by a Chiefs team would be too much to swallow.  I cannot see the Broncos losing this game.  The Chargers are too good and too proud to lose to the Raiders at home.  Another push, both teams win, two game lead continues.

Week 15
Broncos (7-6) @ Carolina
Chargers (5-8) @ KC

I think the Chargers have a much better chance of beating KC in KC in December (which is pretty slim) than the Broncos do of beating Carolina in Carolina.  That is to say, I cannot see either team winning a game this week.  Two losses, the 2 game lead continues.

Week 16
Broncos (7-7) vs Buffalo
Chargers (5-9) @ Tampa

This is where it gets interesting.  Assuming the Broncos win this one, they will have the division wrapped up, they can play backups in week 17, and coast into the playoffs.  (Important to note, this is an afternoon game, it will be over before the Chargers/Tampa game starts on Sunday night.) Because the Broncos know this is one to ‘clinch’…they bring a Raider’s style effort to Mile High @ Invesco, and suck it up…nothing new here.   The Chargers know this one is for all the marbles, they win tonight and win next week, they win the division. So they go balls out and whoop Tampa.  The lead is down to 1.

Week 17
Broncos (7-8) at Chargers (6-9)

The Broncos have been awful in San Diego.  Coming off a stunning defeat by the Bills.  The entire team saying, wait a minute, we had all of this wrapped up, we were AFC champs.  The Chargers put up a tremendous offensive performance and the Broncos do not have Hochuli around to save them this time.  All is right in the AFC West again, the media can go back to loving the Chargers, LT can continue to make his Chunky Soup commercials.

Chargers 51 - Broncos 3

Chargers 7-9
Broncos 7-9

Chargers win by virtue of a better AFC West division record. May be the first team to win a division with a losing record.?  And the Broncos end up with a record good enough to get a middle of the road 1st round pick…and another year of mediocrity.