Broncos staying alive in playoff chase
There is budding optimism in Denver these days. After being left for dead in terms of their playoff chances, the Broncos (5-6) are a game out of the second AFC wild card with five games remaining following two straight wins. And they might just rally to reach the postseason after losing six of seven games. One of the biggest reasons for the renewed hope is Denver has finished the toughest part of its schedule and plays just one team with a winning record the rest of the way – the Los Angeles Chargers in the last game of the season.
By then the Broncos could be playing for a playoff spot if they can take care of business against a weaker schedule. Their next four opponents have a combined record of 13-30-1 entering Week 13 and two of their three road games remaining are against Oakland and San Francisco, both of which are 2-9. If Denver doesn’t make the playoffs there are certain games to look back upon as the reason – an overthrown pass near the goal line late against Kansas City in Week 4 and a missed field goal against Houston in Week 9 that would have given the Broncos a win. Make those two plays and they’re 7-4 and challenging for the AFC West title.
Denver needs help to reach the postseason. It is tied with Miami, Tennessee and Cincinnati and one of its losses is to Baltimore, which at 6-5 holds the tiebreaker between the two. The other team ahead of the Broncos is 6-5 Indianapolis, and the Colts have some tough games left – at Jacksonville this week and at Houston next week. All Denver can do is take care of business – starting with the Bengals on Sunday – and hope the Ravens and Colts stumble to create an opportunity for a trip to the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 three seasons ago.
SERIES HISTORY: 32nd regular-season meeting. Broncos lead series, 21-10 but Cincinnati has an 8-7 home record in the series. The Broncos have won three of their last four games at Paul Brown Stadium, including a 29-17 victory on Sept. 25, 2016. Denver won eight straight against the Bengals from 1983-98 and Cincinnati has never won more than two in a row against the Broncos.