How Manageable is the Broncos’ Remaining Schedule?

The Broncos play the Chiefs again on Christmas, with that matchup taking place in Kansas City. Despite Denver’s momentum and the Chiefs’ woes, Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes. Rashee Rice has revitalized the receiver room, the offensive line is still very solid, and the defense has been fine as well.

Realistically, Denver and Kansas City will split the series, which is fine with Denver. With their eight wins, all they need to do is avoid a late-season collapse, so a split against Mahomes will be sufficient.

The Commanders

It has been a very frustrating season for Commanders fans, as they’ve been forced to watch injuries ravage a very promising team. After losing Austin Ekeler very early in the season, it’s been injury after injury since. Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin have been in and out, and Trey Amos and Marshon Lattimore are now out for the season.

Against Denver, Washington will be quarterbacked by Marcus Mariota and will be giving consistent receiver snaps from Robbie Chosen and Chris Moore. Additionally, without two of their crucial corners, Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin will likely have a field day.

With Denver fresh off their bye week, the 3-7 Commanders simply do not pose much of a threat here. Denver should roll through them, in what could be their 10th win and an NFC East sweep.

The Raiders

Las Vegas gave the Broncos quite a scare last Thursday, as Denver narrowly eked out a 10-7 win. Thus, while losing confidence in the Broncos after that game is understandable, gaining any in the Raiders is not.

Despite Denver’s poor offensive play, Las Vegas’ was equally as bad. The two teams traded punts in what turned out to be a defensive showdown. However, when it comes to defensive showdowns, it will often be Denver who comes out on top.

With one of the best defenses in the league, Denver can always find ways to stay in games even when their offense is struggling. Therefore, when Bo Nix was playing poorly, the Broncos’ defense was still able to limit the Raiders to just seven points.

Simply put, that game was probably the worst Denver’s offense looked all season, and they still won. If the Broncos were able to beat Las Vegas in that game, then surely they’ll beat them again.

Additionally, the 2-7 Raiders are already in full tank mode. Jakobi Meyers was just traded away, and the Raiders could very well be trying out a new quarterback by Week 14. So, even though Denver struggled mightily last Thursday, a Las Vegas victory is still very unlikely.

The Packers

The last three matchups listed are all games that Denver should win and needs to win to top the AFC. However, with only two losses on the year, Denver can afford another few losses. The Broncos can afford to lose to the Packers in Week 15, as they likely will.

Just like seemingly every other year, Green Bay finds themselves towards the top of the NFC, with many considering them true contenders. Such beliefs are valid, as the 5-3-1 Packers have both an offense and defense that are nothing short of elite.

Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs, and Matt LaFleur have turned the offense into a well-oiled machine. As for the defense, the addition of Micah Parsons, combined with their slew of young talents, has made them very formidable.

Denver still has a chance, though, as they faced similar odds when they knocked off the Eagles. Additionally, after losses to the Browns and Panthers, Green Bay proved that they are not invincible. Nevertheless, a loss here would bring Denver’s loss total to three, which still does not foil their quest towards the coveted playoff bye.

The Jaguars

Early in the season, it appeared as though the Jaguars would be dangerous foes. However, after losing three of their last four, they don’t seem nearly as scary. Especially considering their one win in the last four games was a nail-biting overtime victory against the 2-7 Raiders.

Furthermore, star rookie Travis Hunter is now out for the season, and Brian Thomas Jr. has been struggling all year. The passing game had once been a massive strength of Jacksonville, but it has now become a weakness. The Jaguars do have one saving grace, though, and it’s their defense. Ranked second in interceptions, Jacksonville has time and again found ways to force turnovers and get the ball back to its offense. With Bo Nix’s inconsistency, that could prove to be a problem for Denver.

The game will likely be very close, as the Jaguars certainly inspire more confidence than the Raiders and Commanders. However, with Jacksonville’s offense seemingly getting worse and worse, Denver will likely pounce. Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto have been unstoppable at getting to the quarterback. There are too many key contributors in the secondary to list. Thus, even if Bo Nix struggles, and even if Jacksonville gets a takeaway or two, Denver’s defense should propel them to yet another win.

The Chargers

Week 18 matchups are always hard to predict, as nobody knows what state any team will be in by then. Both teams could be chock-full of injuries. Either team could have clinched a bye and declined to play their starters. However, given the assumption that both teams are healthy and ready to compete, the matchup could truly go either way.

Their last matchup in Week 3 was a nailbiter, as the Chargers needed a game-winning field goal to keep Denver at bay. After the Chargers took a 10-0 lead, the Broncos put up 17 unanswered before the Chargers caught up again and won.

It is very hard to doubt this 7-3 Chargers team, as they’ve been solid at every turn. Additionally, Justin Herbert‘s 300 passing yards against Denver’s stellar defense prove just how threatening the Chargers’ offense can be. However, it is not easy to beat a team twice.

After playing Week 3 in Los Angeles, the Chargers will have to travel to the Mile High City for another clash. By then, Denver should be entirely healthy, meaning that Surtain and Dobbins should be good to go.

When it comes to close divisional matchups, splits often seem like the safest bet. And seeing as the Chargers barely knocked off Denver while being at home, a Broncos win at Empower Field seems very reasonable.

Final Record

The Broncos definitely still have their concerns. Bo Nix’s play, Sean Payton‘s playcalling, and injuries could certainly slow Denver down. However, with their dominant defense and rather unimpressive remaining schedule, a 13-4 finish is very possible. The Chiefs, Packers, and Chargers will pose their threats. However, the Commanders, Raiders, and Jaguars likely will not. In fact, even if Denver does lose to the Chargers or someone else, a 12-5 record is a beyond satisfactory outcome.

Many believe that the Broncos will come back down to earth in the second half of the season. But, even if the Broncos continue to struggle, all signs point to Denver being towards the top of the AFC, if not at the top.