Denver Broncos Playoff Chances: Tracking the Broncos Playoff Picture

What Are the Denver Broncos Playoff Chances?

Here is a quick look at the Broncos' chances to make the playoffs along with several related betting odds. The percentages below come from converting odds from DraftKings Sportsbook Colorado into an implied probability.

After getting back on track against the Falcons this past week, the Broncos' Super Bowl odds and playoff chances have seen a solid improvement compared to last week. Looking at the betting markets, Denver is positioned very well for the postseason but isn't being viewed as a legitimate contender for the Lombardi.

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Can the Broncos Make the Playoffs?

Yes, Denver can make the playoffs. Currently, the Broncos playoff chances are 55.6%, which is up quite significantly from 33.3% last week. The team's playoff chances come from converting their betting odds of -125 to an implied probability. Compared to the rest of the AFC, there are just six teams with shorter playoff chances.

Are the Broncos Out of the Playoffs?

No, the Broncos are not out of playoffs. In fact, if the playoffs were to start today, Denver would be the seven seed in the AFC playoffs. There's still a lot of football to be played, but Denver has kept themselves in the conversation despite starting 0-2.

Broncos Playoff Picture

If the Broncos are to make a push for the playoffs this year, it will have to come through a wild card spot. There was minuscule hope for Denver to win the division, but that came to a screeching halt in their 16-14 loss in Week 10. The Broncos' rest of season schedule isn't daunting and if they can take advantage of the easier matchups, they'll be in the playoff discussion at the end of the year.

Broncos Playoff Standings

Here's a look at where the Broncos currently are in the AFC playoff standings:

Broncos Playoff Scenarios

As the season unfolds, I'll keep this section up to date with the latest scenarios and ways the Broncos can make the playoffs. For now, Denver just needs to win as many games as possible and take advantage of an AFC Conference that lacks a true standout team. The Chiefs picked up their first loss and have looked questionable all season. The Bills have been rolling but have certainly benefited from only playing four teams with a winning record. To this point of the season, there has yet to be a team to step forward and look demonstrably better than the rest.

If Bo Nix can continue to develop and make strides as the season unfolds, Denver will squarely be in the AFC Wild Card discussion. The defense has been one of the best units in the league and if the offense can step up and provide above average play, they could be a tough out.

2024 Broncos Schedule and Game Odds

Here is the weekly schedule along with the Broncos game odds from DraftKings. The odds you see beyond this week were from early lines posted during the offseason.

Compared to when the odds for the Broncos' Week 12 matchup against the Raiders were released, the spread has flipped in Denver's favor. The Broncos were initially 2-point underdogs but are now 5.5-point favorites. This is the same trend from last week where early lines had Denver as home underdogs against Atlanta. We all know how that played out.

Denver Broncos Playoff Chances: Key Updates November 2024

Below are the most notable transactions and personnel news impacting the Broncos' playoff odds.

• 📆 November 17: The Broncos get back to the win column with a dominant 38-6 win over Atlanta.
• 📆 November 13: WR Josh Reynolds is designated to return from IR.
• 📆 November 10: Thanks to a blocked field goal, the Broncos fall short of a massive win over the Chiefs, 16-14.
• 📆 November 9: Center Luke Wattenberg is activated from IR.
• 📆 November 3: The Broncos come back down to earth with a 41-10 beating at the hands of the Ravens.
• 📆 October 27: Denver takes care of business against the Panthers, winning 28-14 at home.
• 📆 October 17: The Broncos take advantage of their national spotlight and thump the Saints 33-10. Javonte Williams and Bo Nix combine for 163 rushing yards with Williams finding the endzone twice.
• 📆 October 13: Denver loses its first game since Week 2, 23-16 to the Chargers.
• 📆 October 6: After falling behind 10-0, Denver rallies back to beat the Raiders 34-18.
• 📆 September 29: The Broncos' defense comes up big once again, helping defeat the Jets 10-9.
• 📆 September 22: Denver gets its first win of the season, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-7. 
• 📆 September 18: Starting tackle Mike McGlinchey heads to IR, creating a huge hit for their offensive line and offense in general.
• 📆 September 15: The Broncos drop another game, this time to the Steelers, 13-6.
• 📆 September 8: Denver loses 26-20 to the Seattle Seahawks to open the NFL season. 

I will update this portion regularly with key personnel moves, Broncos injury report updates, and more that could impact the Broncos' playoff chances, so make sure to bookmark this page to stay up to date with the latest news.

Key Contributors Toward Broncos Playoff Chances

How far this team can go and how successful the season is will ultimately come down to head coach Sean Payton and rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Payton was brought in for his offensive acumen and the team selected Nix with their first-round draft pick this year. Though the offense has looked better over the past few weeks, they still rank toward the bottom of the league in most metrics. The Broncos offense is averaging the 12th-fewest yards per play, the 11th-fewest first downs, the 13th-most turnovers, and is middle of the pack in points. The running back room has been one of the most unpredictable rooms in all of football. Two weeks ago we saw rookie Audric Estime dominate fellow RB Javonte Williams in touches. This also led to Payton declaring Estime would be more involved going forward. What happened next? You guessed it -- Williams went back to being the lead back and Estime saw limited involvement.

On the plus side, wide receiver Courtland Sutton has finally been stepping up as the team's top receiving threat. Sutton has at least 70 receiving yards in four straight games while racking up 38 targets during that stretch. For the offense to take its next step, however, they need somebody to step up alongside Sutton. There have been flashes here and there from different players, but nothing consistent from any one player.

Defensively, the release of Justin Simmons creates a massive void both on and off the field. Levi Wallace brings experience, but the headline name is obviously Patrick Surtain II. How well the defense performs as a whole will come down to how disruptive the front seven can be. The addition of John Franklin-Myers will certainly help in stopping the run, while the addition of Cody Barton and the return of Nik Bonitto will help round out the linebackers. The Broncos' defense has been the main bright spot here and has shut down the Bucs and Jets in back-to-back weeks.

Where Can I Bet on the Denver Broncos to Make the Playoffs?

Broncos fans in Colorado can bet on Denver to make the playoffs at DraftKings Colorado and other Colorado sports betting apps. You may find different markets at different sportsbooks, allowing you to find the perfect bet to place.

• BetMGM Colorado 
• Caesars Colorado
• bet365 Colorado

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Broncos Postseason Outlook and Predictions

Given the amount of turnover at key positions last offseason, combined with the lack of true game-changing talent across the board, it's difficult to see Denver making a legitimate playoff push this season. The Broncos have certainly been one of the surprise teams through the first half of the season, but that is more due to the low expectations heading into the season. The offense has had its glimpses of looking above average but has largely been below average across nearly every metric.

The defense has been the true star of this team and has been the main reason why the Broncos have done as well as they have. With the offense struggling the majority of weeks, however, it will be too much for the defense to overcome.

My prediction is the Broncos sneak in as a Wild Card team and lose in the first round of the playoffs.

While you're here, check out our Broncos fantasy football team names page. 

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Author

Blake Weishaar

@BlakeWeishaar

Blake Weishaar is a content strategist and fact-checker at BetColorado.com. He has a wealth of knowledge within the gambling industry dating back to 2014 and has been at the forefront of the sports betting boom since PASPA was repealed in 2018. He plans to harness that expertise in providing the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding Colorado sports betting market.