Playoffs? Yes, we’re talking playoffs.
We are through 8 weeks of the 2026 NFL regular season, and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. After their thrilling victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos have moved into first place in the AFC West and are currently the number 2 seed in the AFC.
They have completed their tough stretch to start the season and now head into the second half of the season controlling their destiny.
AFC Playoff Picture
- Buffalo Bills (6-1)
- Denver Broncos (6-2, 3-1 AFC)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2, 3-2 AFC)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2)
- Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, 5-1 AFC)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-2, 4-2 AFC)
- New England Patriots (5-3, 5-1 AFC)
In the hunt
- Cleveland Browns (5-3, 3-3 AFC)
- Las Vegas Raiders (4-4, 3-3 AFC)
- Baltimore Ravens (4-4, 2-3 AFC)
- Houston Texans (2-5)
- New York Jets (2-6, 2-3 AFC)
- Indianapolis Colts (2-6, 1-5 AFC)
- Miami Dolphins (1-6)
- Tennessee Titans (1-7)
- Los Angeles Chargers (0-7)
Looking ahead
The Denver Broncos had a brutal stretch to start the season and made it through that with an impressive 6-2 record. Now, the second half of their schedule is MUCH easier on paper, which doesn’t always mean much.
Broncos upcoming schedule
- Week 9: @ Carolina Panthers
- Week 10: BYE WEEK
- Week 11: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 12: @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Black Friday Game)
- Week 13: vs. Miami Dolphins
- Week 14: @ New York Jets
- Week 15: @ Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills (Christmas Game)
- Week 17. @ New England Patriots
- Week 18. vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The three big games to circle are the Black Friday game on the road vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently lead the AFC North and are the 3rd seed in the AFC; the Christmas game vs. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, who are currently the number one seed; and a road game vs. Drake Maye and the New England Patriots.
All three teams are in the playoffs right now and could be potential postseason matchups for the Broncos. These games will likely be crucial in seeding when everything is all said and done. So, these are the three most important games remaining on the Broncos’ schedule, but they must take it one game at a time and take care of business on the road vs. the struggling Panthers and head into their BYE with a 7-2 record.
