The Denver Broncos play the Washington Commanders on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 13. Before that, though, the Indianapolis Colts played the Houston Texans. The latter downed the former 20-16. What does that mean for the Broncos? More on that below, but because the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Tennessee Titans, the Colts are no longer the No. 3 seed in the AFC Conference. In fact, the Colts are no longer in first place in the AFC South.
Colts Now a Game and a Half Behind Broncos Ahead of ‘Sunday Night Football’
The now 8-4 Jaguars have leapfrogged the now 8-4 Colts for No. 1 in the AFC South and No. 3 in the AFC Conference because the former has a better conference record than the latter. For the Broncos, this means the Colts are now a game and a half behind them for the No. 2 seed. The Jaguars are a game and a half behind the Broncos for the No. 2 seed as well. Currently, the Colts are the No. 5 seed because the Los Angeles Chargers’ and Buffalo Bills’ game results aren’t final.
The Patriots, the No. 1 seed, though, play the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football” as well. The Broncos, however, are in control of their destiny. Denver just has to win the next two games to extend their winning streak to 10 to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC Conference with four games to go. Because the Patriots have a bye in Week 14, the Broncos would end up with the better conference (7-2 to 6-2), even if both teams are 11-2 through 14 weeks.
The Colts, No. 1 in PFSN’s Offense Impact Score and No. 16 in PFSN’s Defense Impact Score, meanwhile, are reeling. Indianapolis has lost two straight games to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Texans, respectively. Those aren’t the games the football cognescenti thought the Colts would struggle with. The Colts still have to play the Seahawks, the 49ers, and the Jaguars.
Indianapolis, meanwhile, had its odds to win the AFC South drop from 63.3% to 41.5%, according to PSFN Analytics. And the Colts’ odds to win the No. 1 seed fell from 12.7% to 4.3%. The Jaguars, meanwhile, had their odds to win the AFC South jump from 23.5% to 35%. And the Broncos, sitting idle since Week 11, had their odds to win the No. 1 seed in the AFC Conference balloon from 31.4% to 33%. Broncos Country, let’s ride.