The last two times the Denver Broncos were the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs they went to the Super Bowl.
The path to the biggest game in sports went through the Mile High City in both 2013 and 2015.
Those two Super Bowls had very different results, but the Broncos got to sleep in their own beds throughout postseason runs before they headed to New Jersey and Santa Clara for Super Bowls XLVIII and 50.
Being the top seed in your conference is huge, there’s no other way to slice it. And it’s even bigger now since the NFL has expanded the playoffs to seven teams and only gives out one first-round bye.
First, it’s much easier to have to win two games rather than three to play for a championship. Every seed 2-7 must be victorious three times to reach the Super Bowl. Not the No. 1 seed, as it takes two triumphs to earn the AFC crown.
And second, both those games being at Empower Field at Mile High would be massive. The Broncos haven’t lost in downtown Denver since Oct. 13, 2024 against the Chargers. They’ve won 11 games in a row at home. The stretch from 2017-2023 was tough, but Mile High magic has officially returned.
The stadium was literally shaking when the Broncos beat the Chiefs nine days ago. If it was like that in November, can you imagine the roar of the crowd and the presence of the fans in January?
On Sunday, when Kansas City rallied to beat the Indianapolis Colts, some were upset. People think it means the Chiefs have new life and if they make the playoffs they could eventually take down the Broncos.
Maybe, maybe not, but let’s stop living scared.
Indy losing was huge, as the Colts now have three defeats on the season. They hold the tiebreaker over Denver thanks to that ridiculous “leverage” penalty in Week 2, so the Broncos needed them to get a third loss. Sean Payton’s team now controls its own destiny to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
The problem might end up being the 10-2 New England Patriots. Their schedule down the stretch isn’t exactly daunting, facing the Giants, Bills, Ravens, Jets and Dolphins. The good news is both Buffalo and Baltimore are battling like heck to make the postseason, so they should give the Patriots great games.
Let’s say they lose one of those and finish 14-3. That means the Broncos would have to go 5-1 the rest of the way to secure the top seed.
Denver should get road wins against the Commanders (especially without Jayden Daniels) and Raiders in the next two weeks. After that’s it’s home dates with the Packers and Jaguars, Christmas night at Arrowhead and then back here against the Chargers.
On paper, people might say that’s tough. But the dirty little secret is the Broncos could be 11-0. Their only two losses came on brutal walk-off field goals at the buzzer. There’s not a team in the NFL this defense can’t go up against or that QB Bo Nix, even with some of his flaws, is afraid of.
Being the No. 1 seed is great in any sport, but it’s particularly massive in football. It’s the only format where you literally have to win one fewer game to play for the whole enchilada.
It feels like some fans just want to take the AFC West then let the chips fall where they may. Hopefully, that’s not Payton’s mindset when talking to his team.
The head coach needs to outline the importance of going all gas and no brakes the rest of the way. Even if the Broncos are exhausted, they’ll have wild card weekend off while the rest of the conference beats each other up.
The path to Super Bowl LX needs to run through Denver. If the Broncos aren’t going to be there, make someone else come win a divisional game or the AFC Title Game a mile above sea level.
Buckle up, there’s so much on the line during the final six games of the regular season.
