Denver Broncos: Josh McDaniels Expects Team To Make the Playoffs

A fourth of the NFL regular season has officially been played for all but a select handful of teams. And that means that the playoff prognostication can start taking a life of its own.

While many will disagree with my analysis, allow me to clarify up front it is purely speculative based on how I expect games (and other unmentioned schedules) to pan out.

Fans now have a glimpse of every team in the NFL (be it a bit cloudy) and their respective talents. While the first four games for the Broncos have certainly not gone as I predicted, their record coming out of the stretch is what I figured it would be.

And that means, if they can stay on track, this team has a serious shot at the playoffs.

While I want to be careful about exciting fans who have struggled through years of eight and eight seasons, this team has some life to it that is starting to shine through. The defense has heart and determination led by veterans like Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey, and DJ Williams. There is a lot of youthful passion from Robert Ayers and Perrish Cox.

On the opposite side of the ball, Kyle Orton has transformed himself into a true field general. While there are tremendous problems with the running game, the offensive line has been off-and-on a very strong unit.

But making the playoffs is a mathematical formula, decided entirely by wins and losses; heart doesn't factor into the system (this isn't the BCS).

In order for Josh McDaniels' Denver Broncos to finally jump the hurdle and escape the mediocrity of a .500 record, they will need to play some very solid football down the stretch. It appeared, before the season, that the second half of the schedule was the part where they could start to pick up some extra wins.

That hasn't changed, though it looks like it might be slightly more difficult.

For now the Denver Broncos need to realistically be aiming for going into their bye week with a four and four record. This week they take on the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. The week after that they have the New York Jets at home. Both of those games will be exceptionally difficult, and if they're lucky, the Broncos might pick one of them off.

For now I am going to assume that Denver loses both of those games. If they win it will be a nice surprise.

But that means that the Broncos will have to beat their biggest rivals, the Oakland Raiders, and the San Francisco 49ers in London heading into the bye week. Given the performance of both of those teams, it seems pretty realistic.

After the bye week the Broncos take on the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at home, which should be a win. Coming out of a bye week the Broncos virtually never lose and at home that game should be a lock. Following that game, the Broncos will need four wins out of seven to make the playoffs.

That means the Broncos will likely need to split with the San Diego Chargers (as usual), beat the Arizona Cardinals and St Louis Rams (the Rams might be tough), and then pull out one more game in their remaining three matchups.

So the Broncos will either have to sweep the Chiefs, sweep the Raiders, or somehow overcome a very impressive Houston Texans team. I think this team can accomplish one of those things.

So while the season is young and the future is uncertain, this might be the year that Denver returns to the postseason. For one of the NFL's most loyal fan bases, it has definitely been a long time to wait.