The Jaguars face the Broncos in Denver on Sunday. We break down what the game means for the NFL playoff picture in Week 16.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos face off in a Week 16 matchup that could be a playoff preview. The Broncos have clinched a playoff berth and the Jaguars are closing in on punching their own ticket.
The Jaguars are 10-4 and have won five straight games heading into this matchup. They opened the streak with a 35-6 thumping of the Chargers and last week they crushed the Jets 48-20. Meanwhile, the Broncos are 12-2 and have won 11 straight. They’re coming off a 34-26 win over the Packers and continued firming up their spot in the AFC playoff picture.
The Broncos head into the game as a field goal favorite.
Jacksonville Jaguars playoff picture
The Jaguars have a one game lead over the Texans and both teams are playing in the 4 p.m. ET window on Sunday. The Jaguars kick off at 4:05 while the Texans kick off at 4:25 p.m. The Jaguars cannot clinch the AFC South title this week, but they can secure a wild card berth and set up a division clinching scenario in Week 17. If the Jaguars beat the Broncos, they will clinch a playoff berth if either the Colts or Texans lose. Heading into Sunday, the Jaguars have a 60% chance of winning the division and 39% chance of ending up a wild card team, according to The Athletic’s playoff simulator.
Jacksonville is in third place in the overall AFC standings, two games back of the Broncos and one game back of the Patriots. New England is traveling to Baltimore in Week 16. The playoff simulator gives the Jaguars an 11% chance of earning the No. 1 seed. If the Jaguars beat the Broncos, their chances at the No. 1 seed improve to 25%. If the Patriots also lose, Jacksonville would have a 34% chance at the No. 1 seed.
Denver Broncos playoff picture
The Broncos were the first AFC team to clinch a playoff berth, and have a clinching scenario for the No. 1 seed. If the Broncos beat the Jaguars and the Chargers lose to the Cowboys, Denver will clinch the AFC West title. If that all happens and the Patriots lose to the Ravens and the Bills lose to the Browns, Denver would clinch the No. 1 seed. They currently have a 73% chance of clinching the No. 1 seed. That improves to 92% if they beat the Jaguars.
Tiebreaker implications
This will settle the head-to-head tiebreaker between the Jaguars and Broncos. Additionally, a Broncos loss and Patriots win this week would even those two up in the conference record tiebreaker.
Category: General Sports
