It is true that every team that makes the playoffs have to earn their spot but the Denver Broncos will really have to earn it. Their final three teams are all against tough opponents. In the last three weeks of the NFL season the Broncos will face the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, and Oakland Raiders. All three of these teams are the only AFC Teams with better records then the team from Denver. Two out of three of them are AFC West rivals. First year starting quarterback, Trevor Siemian, will have his hands full with these matchups.

Tough Schedule means Denver Broncos Playoff Spot Must be Earned

New England Patriots

The number one overall team in the AFC currently. The New England Patriots have been a powerhouse team for the better part of two decades. The Broncos do play the Patriots tough though. The team from Colorado is the only team that Tom Brady has a losing record to. In the regular season Brady has beat them only five out of the eleven times they played. The post season is even worse for him. Only one win out of four. This helps out the Broncos especially with this game being in Denver. The altitude can be difficult on opposing teams.

Kansas City Chiefs

This year Christmas falls on a Sunday. Apparently NFL fans have been good this year because Santa is delivering two good match-ups. The first match-up is the Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers. The second match-up is the Broncos at Kansas City. The Chiefs and Broncos played a thrilling Sunday night game the last time these two faced off. The game went into overtime and nearly ended on a tie before Cairo Santos banked a field goal off the upright. The Broncos and the Chiefs both thrive on their defenses and offenses that don’t make too many mistakes. As of right now Kansas City is the top team in the AFC West. The Denver Broncos want to win the division title for the sixth straight year in 2016. The Kansas City Chiefs want to claim the title for the first time since 2010.

Oakland Raiders

The team currently in second place in the AFC West is the Oakland Raiders. Oakland hasn’t won the AFC West since 2002 and they really want that title. They are also battling for a playoff spot and are currently holding the first wildcard spot in the post season. The Raiders beat the Broncos earlier this season in Oakland 30-20. Now the Raiders travel to Denver for the final game of the season. Denver will be fighting for their playoff spots in this game.

Denver just lost a game to the Tennessee Titans which could cost them badly in the final stretch before the playoffs. The last three games all are must win for the defending Super Bowl Champions. Denver is currently in that sixth spot but the Miami Dolphins and AFC North loser are going to be competing heavily for that spot. The Steelers currently have the AFC North crown but their Christmas night match-up with the Ravens could be very important towards the final AFC Wildcard spot as well. Whoever loses that game could very well be sliding into the sixth spot in the playoffs. Denver needs to be in playoff mode starting now or they will be on the outside looking in come January.