Fans React to Broncos' Playoff Odds Following Week 15 Loss

The majority of — but not all — Denver Broncos fans are out on the team as a potential playoff contender following Saturday's 42-17 loss to the Detroit Lions.

A simple question was posed on X, asking if Broncos Country believes the 7-7 club will qualify for the postseason, and was met with a consensus: No.

Unfortunately not. Another mediocre middle of the pack season just outside the playoffs and just far outside of a decent draft pick that make an immediate difference.

Same as always lately.
— Jon (@UtopiaCafeJon) December 18, 2023

I don't, luck has been on their side for a while now, but it is gone now, turnovers are gone - unless it is Wilson putting it on ground, run D is pathetic, and the run game is weak at best. Even the Pats are not a guarantee!
— gsdfrvr (@Todds1964) December 18, 2023

Nope. And to be honest I don't mind if we do miss out. We are not a playoff calibre team yet. The game against Detroit showed that. Next season however, I expect us to play attractive Football where we comfortably win games. When this happens, then we can talk playoffs
— Tom Kirk 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏈 (@T0mkirk) December 18, 2023

No I’m already accepting our fate
— Marte SZN (@MrFreshSkid) December 18, 2023

I no longer believe so. We needed that Lions win. To get destroyed like that eliminated what hope I had left. I have a feeling we get upset during one of our last three games. I hope I am wrong. I wasn't expecting playoffs anyway this year. I was always saying next year.
— Hunter's Point (@HunterHaley10) December 18, 2023

Absolutely not...they won't win out

I honestly think New England beats them
— Broncosguy88 (@Broncosguy56389) December 18, 2023

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Had they emerged victorious in the Motor City, the Broncos would've had a 72% chance of making the playoffs — perhaps even as AFC West champs. Now, per the New York Times simulator, those odds are down to a scant 21%.

Denver no longer controls its own destiny. To clinch a Wild Card spot, Sean Payton's squad must win its final three games (against the Patriots, Chargers, and Raiders) and get some within the AFC, where they currently hold the 11th seed.

"I said to them after the game, ‘Look, this is a tough loss. They never taste well, but this one will go down,’" Payton said after the Detroit blowout. "The key for us is to get rested and get ready for these final three weeks and really starting with this week versus New England. You can’t lose that game twice. You lost it once and we all did collectively. We all could have been better, and we weren’t. Let’s move forward. The leadership and the experience in this locker room we’ve leaned on, and we will lean on again. It’ll serve as well.”

Though a collective skepticism blankets the fan base, there are a few outliers who believe the season is far from over, and that Denver could still be playing meaningful football into January.

if you take a look at our opponents schedules a lot of them play each other these last 3 games which is super beneficial to us, all the broncos need to do is win out and I think we could sneak in.
— krista 🫶🏼 (@platinumseok) December 18, 2023

10-7 easy games left, bills have a game against the dolphins that’s one loss, Texans have the browns titans colts could lose all, bengals play the chiefs and colts play the Texans. The major factor here is the jags, they can easily lose 2 of 3. Opening a spot.
— JoshM13 (@M13Josh) December 18, 2023

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