Broncos to enter playoff mode after bye

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – The new year, yet alone Thanksgiving, isn’t upon us, but there is already talk of playoff football, specifically Denver Broncos playoff football.

Denver (7-3) currently sits in a very peculiar position in the playoff race. Going into Week 11 the Broncos are the sixth seed in the playoffs, making them the last team to make the postseason if it were to start today. However, they only sit half a game back of the Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) and Oakland Raiders (7-2) for the AFC West division title and only half a game back of the New England Patriots (7-2) for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

To say the playoff race is far from over may be an understatement. In fact, since it is not likely to be decided until the end of Week 17, Broncos’ head coach Gary Kubiak says the team will enter playoff mode for the final six games of the regular season.

“I think it’s going to be that way,” he said of the final six games having a playoff feel. “If you look, we’re all playing each other.”

“We are in a great division this year; there are three teams in our division with seven wins, I don’t think that’s any place else in football,” added the head coach. “We know what’s at stake and every game we play these last six weeks is going to be really big, starting with the first one.”

The NFL appears to agree with Kubiak about that first game—home against the Chiefs—being very important, as the league moved the game from an afternoon kickoff to prime time on Sunday, Nov. 27.

“I’m excited…I feel like we have the best division in football,” outside linebacker Shane Ray said. “Playing great against these teams is what establishes you as a big-time player.”

While the Broncos’ are the Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs have had incredible success in the regular season dating back to last year.

“We’re going to be in a lot of big games and [the Chiefs are] obviously playing probably as well as anybody in football,” Kubiak said. “I think they’re 17-2 in regular season games…so it’s a great football team. It’s going to be a great atmosphere. We’ll be ready to go.”

In the final six games of the season, the Broncos have the most difficult strength of schedule in the entire league, including three matchups within the division and five games against potential AFC playoff teams.

Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs (7-2), Sunday, November 27
Week 13: @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7), Sunday, December 4
Week 14: @ Tennessee Titans (5-5), Sunday, December 11
Week 15: New England Patriots (7-2), Sunday, December 18
Week 16: @ Kansas City Chiefs (7-2), Sunday, December 25
Week 17: Oakland Raiders (7-2), Sunday, January 1

Not only will these final games determine where the Broncos end up in the playoff race, running back Kapri Bibbs said they will give a look into the future.

“These final six games are going to be a testament to what we are going to be in the playoffs,” he explained.

The encouraging news for the Broncos is they could find themselves at full strength for that stretch, with cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive end Derek Wolfe primed to return. Talib was back at practice on Tuesday before the bye week.

“I feel good about [Aqib Talib] and Derek being ready to go,” Kubiak said. “Aqib actually worked out [on Monday]… Everything looks good. We will probably hold Derek [out of practice] until about next Wednesday then cut him loose. It sure looks like we are going to get closer to full strength.”

Before the players and coaches get away for a few days due to the bye week, they will take a look internally as to where they are 10 weeks into the season.

“Evaluation is the most important thing,” the head coach said. “Sending a message to the players what we are seeing and where we are going and I want them to get away and freshen themselves up because we have a lot of good football to play.”

Coming back from the break fresh is exactly what the Broncos need as they will enter playoff mode six weeks early.