Denver Broncos Week 13: 6 Possible NFL Playoff Scenarios for the Denver Broncos

Week 13 of the NFL season gave us another helping of wild and wacky games and outcomes.

If the regular season ended today, the Denver Broncos would be winners of the AFC West with their tiebreaker over the Oakland Raiders. With their ever so slight division lead, the Broncos’ currently hold the No. 4 seed in the AFC and as such could host a first-round home game in the playoffs.

The Broncos are now at 7-5 and in good position for a wild-card spot if they don’t win their division with head-to-head wins over fellow wild card contenders, the Bengals and Jets.

Here’s a look at six possible first-round playoff scenarios for Denver.

Denver Broncos vs. Baltimore Ravens

A Broncos-Ravens matchup is likely with both teams in the thick of the playoff race. If it comes to fruition, it would be most likely a second-round away game for the Broncos. But if the Ravens drop to a wild card, it could be a first-round game at Mile High.

Why This Matchup Favors the Broncos:

Despite the injection of Joe Flacco and Anquan Boldin, the Ravens’ identity is still that of a defensive team. A low-scoring defensive game would actually favor the Broncos, based on the late game heroics that Tim Tebow invites.

Altitude and crowd noise could also favor the Broncos if the game is played in Denver.

Why This Matchup Favors the Ravens:

Two words: Ray Rice. Like Percy Harvin for the Vikings, Ray Rice is the most explosive weapon for his offense. Like Harvin, Rice could be unaccounted for when the Broncos are concentrating too much on the pass rush.

Defensively, teams have tried to put eight men in the box to stop Tebow, but the defensive front of the Ravens is arguably one of the best in the league.

Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

If the playoffs started today, Pittsburgh would travel to Denver as a No. 5 seed vs. No. 4 seed and AFC West winner Denver.

Barring a Baltimore collapse in the AFC North, a Steelers-Broncos pairing is a likely scenario.

Why This Matchup Favors the Broncos:

Winning the turnover battle is winning games for the Broncos as of late, and it is 10 times as important in the playoffs.

Although Ben Roethlisberger is considered an elite quarterback by fans and analysts alike, a turnover-prone Roethlisberger is no better than the second-year Tebow. Turnovers are why the Steelers aren’t polishing a seventh Super Bowl ring this season, and why Rashard Mendenhall earned his “fumble machine” moniker.

Why This Matchup Favors the Steelers:

Playoff experience favors the Steelers. Since the Broncos lost to the Steelers in the 2005 AFC Championship, Denver has failed two reach the playoffs while Pittsburgh has won two Super Bowls and lost a third in that time frame.

The Steelers have many players still on the roster from those successful teams, so they know how to get it done in the playoffs.

Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders

The Broncos and Raiders are currently in a two-team race to win the AFC West.

If one team wins the division outright, the other could very easily take a wild-card spot, which could set up a third meeting this season between these teams in the first round of the playoffs.

Why This Matchup Favors the Broncos:

The Broncos and Raiders have split the season series, but the difference between a win and a loss has been quarterback Tim Tebow and the Broncos’ running game.

In the Broncos’ 38-24 win on November 6th, both Tebow and Willis McGahee ran for over 100 yards each.

Why This Matchup Favors the Raiders:

Just like the Broncos with Tebow, the Raiders have been a markedly better team with a new quarterback injected into the offense. With Carson Palmer in, the Raiders have turned into an aerial offense.

Stalwart running back Darren McFadden may be healthy come playoff time, and a two-pronged attack could make the Raiders a dangerous offensive match for any team in the postseason.

Denver Broncos vs. Tennessee Titans

These two teams met earlier this season in what was a 17-14 win for the Titans. But both teams have brought back a potent running attack, which should make this game different from the early-season game where both Chris Johnson and Willis McGahee put up under 100 yards rushing each.

Why This Matchup Favors the Broncos:

Matt Hasselbeck has turned into more of a game manager as of late, but the Broncos defense would still have an edge against him if these two teams met again in the playoffs.

Last year with Seattle, Hasselbeck threw three interceptions against the Broncos D, which resulted in a 31-14 loss for the Seahawks. If Hasselbeck is foolish enough to throw to Champ Bailey like he has in the past, the Broncos would be in good position to win a rematch.

Why This Matchup Favors the Titans:

After a slow start to the season, Titans running back Chris Johnson has seemingly returned to form, having rushed for over 150 yards in each of the team’s last two games. In Sunday’s win against Buffalo, Johnson had two rushing touchdowns.

If the Titans are to beat the Broncos for a second time this season, they will have to do it on the ground with CJ2K.

Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Another rematch that Denver could possibly have in the first round of this year’s playoffs could be Cincinnati, whom the Broncos beat at home 24-22 earlier in the year. The win was the only one of the season for Denver with former QB Kyle Orton under center.

Why This Matchup Favors the Broncos:

The Bengals would have to make the playoffs as a wild card, which means once again they would have to travel to Denver.

In their last meeting, wide receiver Eric Decker burned the Bengals for 113 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Now equipped with a healthy Demaryius Thomas, the Broncos have a double-edged sword to attack the Cincinnati secondary.

Why This Matchup Favors the Bengals:

Despite early criticism, Andy Dalton has come into his own as a legitimate NFL starter (sound familiar Broncos fans?).

Dalton has developed a good rapport with fellow rookie A.J. Green and scarily enough the tandem is markedly better now than they were earlier in the year, when they torched Denver through the air for 124 yards and a touchdown.

Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets

The Broncos beat the Jets 17-13 in the third win of their current five-game winning streak on Thursday Night Football. The game marked yet another last-minute comeback from Tebow and the Broncos, but also marked the first time this unconventional offense was showcased on a national stage.

Just like many of the other games listed here, if a rematch becomes a reality, it would be hosted in Denver.

Why This Matchup Favors the Broncos:

Just as the Pittsburgh Steelers showed in last year’s playoffs, the formula for beating the Jets is to use their own formula of “ground and pound” on offense while playing good defense.

The Broncos not only did this to beat New York earlier in the year, but are now even more dangerous with improved play from Tim Tebow and his receivers in the passing game.

Why This Matchup Favors the Jets:

Loud-mouthed as he is, Rex Ryan is a good coach and has shown in the past that he can make adjustments to help his team win down the stretch and in the playoffs.

With the exception of the last Broncos’ drive in their previous meeting, Ryan’s defense had Tebow stymied. Mark Sanchez has also seemingly gotten the message in the Jets recent games, showing that he can take care of the ball and flat out play better.

The combined formula could lead to a Jets victory the second time around.

Are there any teams you would like to see the Broncos play in this year's playoffs? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.