After a Week 15 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Denver Broncos playoff hopes are mostly dead, but slightly alive. After a 1-5 start, Denver was able to win five games in a row. But losses in two out of the last three have Orange Crush-ed their postseason hopes. The Broncos are mostly dead in the water, with too many AFC teams fighting for the same wild card slots. But, as Miracle Max said, mostly dead is slightly alive. For Denver to resurrect completely, they’ll definitely need miraculous intervention. And with only three games to go, there is literally no room for error.
Slightly Alive? The Denver Broncos Playoff Hopes Are Mostly Dead
What Went Wrong
The comeback story of the year is in the process of being written. But, unfortunately, the Denver Broncos playoff hopes are becoming fantasy, not reality. After digging themselves into a 1-5 hole, to play themselves to 6-5 is an effort worth applause. But effort doesn’t win championships, defense does. And, unfortunately, Denver’s defense failed them in one big game, while the offense failed the other. Two “must-win”s against the Detroit Lions and the Houston Texans exposed the Broncos as a team that isn’t ready. And so the comeback falters.
In Houston, quarterback Russell Wilson was allowed to “cook.” But he was the one who got burnt, to the tune of three interceptions. In Detroit, Denver’s defense failed miserably, allowing 42 points to the Lions. The key stat to that game is third down conversions – Detroit converted 50%, while also not turning the ball over. That’s an instant loss for almost any opponent, and probably a killer blow to the Denver Broncos playoff hopes. Apparently, the Broncos have flaws that other teams recognize. And that means that the postseason might not be within reach.
What Must Happen
But, and it’s a big stretch, admittedly, the season isn’t over. And perhaps there is still hope. Not much, but maybe just enough. Denver’s upcoming schedule is favorable. A home game vs the New England Patriots, who have a losing record and a backup quarterback. A home game vs the Los Angeles Chargers, who have a losing record and a backup quarterback. And a road game vs the Las Vegas Raiders, who have a losing record and a backup quarterback. Notice a trend? These are winnable games. And the Denver Broncos playoff hopes hinge on winning them.
Ultimately, the first step is actually winning all three games. Lose one and the season is over because the AFC is simply too competitive. Win all three, and hope still remains. At that point, the Denver Broncos playoff hopes rest in the hands of other teams. The hope will be that they all lose key games, stumble at the finish line, and the Broncos sneak in. Because of the losses to Houston and Detroit, Denver doesn’t have much control of their own. Luck must be on their side in order to reach the postseason. And luck hasn’t seemed to be their lady so far this year.
Denver Broncos Playoff Hopes Are Mostly Dead
With three wins of their last three games, the Broncos will move to 10-7. That record seemed unbelievable near the beginning of the season, so it would be a commendable feat. However, commendations aren’t what this team is playing for. The Denver Broncos playoff hopes rely on finishing strong and hoping other AFC contenders lose. This isn’t a sure bet at all, the odds are against them. But it does keep hope slightly alive, which sounds much better than mostly dead.
Main Image: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
