The Broncos just played their final weekend of football in October, and the calendars will turn to November the next time they take the field. We are 8 games into the 2025 NFL season, and at the mid-point of the season, so it’s a good time to take an early look at the AFC playoff picture.
As it stands right now, the Denver Broncos are the number 3 seed in the AFC behind the 7-1 Colts (a team they should have beaten) and the upstart 6-2 New England Patriots. Again, it is very early, but in the past,
we have been talking about draft order instead of playoff seeding this time of the year, so I will take it.
With teams like the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens having some struggles this year, some more than others, the AFC looks a bit different than anticipated right now. The Colts sit at the top with a 7-1 record and have been playing really good football. Daniel Jones looks elite, while Jonathan Taylor is the top candidate for the Offensive Player of the Year award. They don’t look like a team that will be slowing down anytime soon.
After the Colts, you have the Patriots (is it 2005 again?), led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye. This is just as surprising as the Colts, but like them, they are playing really good football and are currently ahead of the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. Like the Colts, they don’t seem like a team that will be slowing down anytime soon.
In the third seed, you have our Denver Broncos. They are a leverage penalty away from 7-1 and a better 4th quarter away from 8-0, but currently sit with a 6-2 record in the midst of a five-game win streak. They have one of the best defenses in the league, and Bo Nix and their offense seem to be figuring things out. They have proven they can contend with anyone they play and can’t be counted out as a team that can make a deep postseason run.
After these 3 teams, things get a bit murky. The Steelers have a 4-3 record, but have the 3-5 Bengals and the 2-5 Ravens not far behind. The Steelers have control of the AFC North right now, but that division is far from settled. Your three wild card teams are the 5-2 Bills and the 5-3 Chargers. Both teams have looked good this year, but have also lost some games you wouldn’t have expected them to lose. They are led by Josh Allen and Justin Herbert and figure to be in the mix throughout the season. Then you have the 4-3 Jacksonville Jaguars at the 7th seed, and, in my personal opinion, I don’t think they are a playoff team and will probably end up on the outside looking in.
One team we haven’t talked about yet is the Kansas City Chiefs. They play tonight vs. the Commanders, a game they likely will win and improve to a 5-3 record and into a playoff spot. However, they currently sit at 4-3 and as the 8th seed in the AFC. Unfortunately, they are a team that is going to factor into the AFC West and the AFC Playoff picture before things are all set and done.
After the Chiefs, you have the 3-5 Bengals, 2-5 Raiders, 2-5 Ravens, and so on. Most of these teams are not good enough and/or dug themselves too deep in a hole to get themselves in the postseason conversation. The Ravens have the pedigree to do it, especially if they can get Lamar back and healthy, but they have little room for error.
It is early, and a lot can and will change, but you have to like the Broncos’ chances of making the playoffs. The AFC West will likely come down to the wire between the Broncos, Chargers, and Chiefs, but even if they are contending for a wildcard, they have a multi-game buffer over their competition currently.
I believe your 7 AFC playoff teams will be the Colts, Broncos, Patriots, Bills, Chargers, Chiefs, and either the Steelers or Ravens.
There is still a long way to go, but it is fun talking playoffs this early in the year, and we’ll be able to discuss it more and more as we progress through the season.
