NFL Playoff Picture: Tim Tebow and Broncos Still in Driver's Seat in AFC West

In the grand scheme of the AFC West playoff picture, Sunday was irrelevant for the Denver Broncos.

Sure they lost their first game in seven weeks against the best team they’ve played with Tim Tebow as the starter, but they were the beneficiaries of yet another miracle.

As the final seconds were ticking off of their 41-23 loss, the Oakland Raiders were in the middle of allowing the Detroit Lions to come back and win 28-27 on a Calvin Johnson touchdown in the final minute of the game. That kept the Broncos (8-6) a full game up on the Raiders (7-7) heading into the final two weeks of the season.

With a road trip to Buffalo before a Kyle Orton homecoming to end the season, the Broncos just have to beat the Chiefs to get in. Or they can win one of two and if Oakland doesn’t win out…they will still go to the playoffs. The Raiders have to beat both the Chiefs and the Chargers and hope KC wins at Denver in Week 17.

The Chargers are somehow still alive as well. They must win their last two games against the Lions and Raiders and hope the Broncos go 0-2. If this were to occur, the Bolts hold all of the tiebreakers over Denver.

Last but not least, the Chiefs need to beat the Raiders and Broncos, have Denver lose to the Bills AND San Diego must lose one of their last two games.

Every single situation involves the Broncos losing in some way or another. As long as the Broncos are able to take care of a Buffalo team that is currently on a seven-game losing streak, the West will be all but sealed.

But if the Broncos lose…Week 17 is going to be insane.

Orton and the Chiefs can destroy Tebow’s miracle run and potentially sneak into the playoffs. After secretly despising his teammate for getting all the attention despite riding the bench, this is Orton’s chance to exact revenge.

Oh, the drama!

There is no doubt that the AFC West is as wild as it gets.