Broncos' Rooting Guide for NFL Playoff Bracket Implications of Week 15

The Denver Broncos have already become the league's most surprising team. At least, they are the team who has achieved more than most thought possible this year.

Bo Nix has progressed much more quickly than anticipated and the defense is playing at an elite level. Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts will be a huge test, though. They are the better team on paper and there's a lot on the line. They have to prove they can show up and get the W, though.

It's a result that would be a huge boost to their playoff chances. According to NFL.com, the Broncos have a 73 percent chance to make the playoffs. Those odds increase to 88 percent with a win over the Colts and shrink to 47 percent with a loss.

The Broncos need to win this week if they want to establish themselves as a team that can make noise in the playoffs rather than simply making them.

Realistically, the Broncos are still in play for the fifth seed. They are in a three-way tie with the Ravens and Chargers at 8-5. If they all won out, it would come down to tie breakers.

With that in mind, here's a rooting guide for the key games this week that will impact the Broncos placement in the playoff bracket.

Buccaneers over Chargers

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TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 8: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Raymond James Stadium on December 8, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Broncos fans should have no problem rooting against the Chargers. It's an every week occurence, but a loss to the Buccaneers this week would be especially nice.

The Chargers and Broncos are tied at 8-5, but the Chargers are one seed ahead of the Broncos and 16 percent more likely to make the playoff field according to NFL.com's projections.

A Broncos win combined with a Chargers loss would flip those odds to the Broncos favor.

The good news is that the Buccaneers are good enough to help out. Tampa is currently fending off the 6-7 Atlanta Falcons for the lead in the NFC South. A win over the Chargers would boost their own playoff odds from 72 percent to 88.

The Chargers haven't lost back-to-back games since Weeks 3 and 4. Jim Harbaugh has done a good job of getting his team to rebound from its losses.

However, Justin Herbert is dealing with an ankle sprain and the Bucs have won three games in a row since their bye week. We'll find out if that's just a product of playing the Giants, Panthers and Raiders or if they have really figured something out.

A loss to the Bucs would be a preferable preamble to a critical Broncos vs. Chargers matchup next week.

Texans over Dolphins

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 01: Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) celebrates a touchdown with Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (86) during the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans on December 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Ravens and Chargers losses would help the Broncos playoff positioning. A Dolphins loss would go a long way toward guaranteeing Denver a spot in the playoffs.

At 8-5, the Broncos have a two-game lead over the seventh and eighth place teams in the AFC. The Colts are one of them and the Broncos could extend that lead to three by simply beating them on Sunday.

A win and a Dolphins loss to the Texans would pretty much seal a playoff berth.

If the Fins lose to the Texans then their playoff odds shrink from 16 percent to just five percent, per NFL.com.

Miami stands as a somewhat dangerous fringe team. Their record is impacted by a 1-6 streak early in the season when Tagovailoa was either out of the lineup or just coming back from his concussion.

Now, they seem to be gathering steam with wins in four of their last five games.

The Texans hold an 8-5 record, but are nearly guaranteed to finish ahead of the Broncos as the AFC South champions if the Broncos beat the Colts. They do have a tough schedule ahead with Kansas City and Baltimore on the docket, but they are two games ahead of the Colts.

Therefore a Texans win doesn't hurt the Broncos seeding while helping to eliminate one of the few teams who can catch them in the wildcard race.

Giants over Ravens

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 08: Malik Nabers #1 of the New York Giants celebrates with teammates after a 2 point conversion against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium on December 08, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Ravens have lost two out of their last three games. Is their slump bad enough to drop a game on the road against the 2-11 Giants? Probably not, but it would sure help the Broncos.

Baltimore got off to a 7-3 start and was in the conversation for the No. 1 seed. However, losses to the Steelers and Eagles over the last three weeks has them two games behind the Steelers for the AFC North title.

A loss to the Giants would be demoralizing. Losses to the Steelers and Eagles can be explained away. They are among the best teams in the league this season and the losses were close.

There's no justifying a loss to the Giants for anyone at this point.

Still, we'll take an optimistic look here. The Giants might not be good, but they aren't getting run off the field most weeks.

They had a field goal blocked that would have tied the game against the Saints with a few seconds left. Drew Lock rallied the Giants to come within one score of the Cowboys when they were trailing 27-13 in the fourth quarter the previous week.

This will be Lock's third start and the Giants have been more competitive with him under center. He has led the team in rushing each of the last two weeks and the Ravens defense has given up rushing touchdowns to Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert in back-to-back weeks.

That might be grasping for straws, but this is all about holding out hope as a Giants win would be huge for Denver.