While all the talk and attention this week has been on Broncos coaches interviewing for jobs around the league, the Broncos are still in the playoffs. They clinched the one seed on Sunday and are enjoying
a much-deserved bye week before getting ready for the divisional round next weekend. The wildcard round, starting tomorrow, will decide which team will head to Mile High to take on the Broncos.
Due to the Broncos being the one seed, they will play the lowest remaining seed in the divisional round. They will play either the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, or Los Angeles Chargers, depending on how things go down on wildcard weekend.
If the 7 seed Chargers defeat the 2 seed Patriots, the Chargers will be heading to Mile High to take on the Broncos for a third time this season. If the Chargers lose and the 6-seed Buffalo Bills defeat the 3-seed Jaguars, then we will have a rematch from last year’s wildcard round. If both the Chargers and Bills lose and the Texans defeat the Steelers, the Broncos will face the Texans for a second time this season. Finally, if the Chargers and Bills lose and the Steelers upset the Texans, then Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers will be heading to Mile High.
The Broncos split the season series with the Chargers; however, Jim Harbaugh’s team has been a thorn in the Broncos’ side and would be a tough matchup for them. The Bills and Josh Allen blew out the Broncos in the wildcard round last season, and a potential revenge game would be fun. Earlier in the season, the Broncos had one of their 4th quarter comebacks vs. the Texans, but their top-ranked defense will make things difficult. Finally, the Steelers are probably the most favorable matchup, but defeating veteran head coach Mike Tomlin and future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be easier said than done.
It is the playoffs, and no matchups will be easy. The Broncos need to take care of business, regardless of who they play, and just need to win two more games to reach the Super Bowl.
