Denver should be playoff bound, even after some missteps.
For the Denver Broncos, that 91% changed pretty fast. Now, the only way to get into the playoffs is to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in a Week 18 matchup.
As Ian St. Clair and I discussed on Odds and Endzones, if the Broncos can’t find a way to beat a Kansas City team that is in full rest mode, they don’t deserve to be in the postseason.
On the show we discussed the frustrations of having the playoffs in their hands, and watching Sean Payton’s team find ways to drop the ball. However, sitting in this position, it does feel good for Broncos Country to be this close to the getting to watch playoff football.
The consternation, the frustration, the trepidation will all have been worth it if Bo Nix can lead this team back to a place they haven’t been in almost a decade.
Double digit wins? Playoffs? A bright future? All of this sits on the horizon of Week 18. And it’s not like Andy Reid has his sights set on ruining the Broncos chances. Patrick Mahomes won’t play. Chris Jones won’t play. Looking at the list of players that are “doubtful” for the game is encouraging.
The Broncos are double-digit favorites. It’s right there.
I told Ian on the show that I really didn’t like watching the Broncos players run off the field yelling, “91%” after beating the Indianapolis Colts, as if they had accomplished something. It felt like a bad omen.
The job was not done. Two games later, I didn’t hear any percentages being mentioned by the players. The only number that ever mattered was 100%. Celebrating 91% is like celebrating a marathon finish at mile 23. Things happen.
They should be able to finish the job. At home, wearing their beautiful throwbacks, playing a Chiefs team with multiple starters in street clothes. Now is the time.
100%.