As much as we want to see the Broncos getting a loss in the next two games, they will probably win out. I just don't see a top 5 defense and Peyton losing up this #2 seed. They know facing the Pats at home is WAY too risky.
On the other hand, the Texans have a tougher schedule. They host AP & the Vikings, who can't afford a loss, and then they have to go to IND, where Luck & Colts will be looking for some kind of revenge. Luck has posted his best numbers, by far, at home. 6-1 record and 10/5 TD-INT ratio, plus 81.8 QB rating at home vs 3-4 record and 10/13 TD-INT ratio, plus 69.3 QB rating.
I think we should be rooting more for an upset in KC than an upset in DEN. KC has a very talented secondary (Berry & Flowers plus a very decent Kendrick Lewis at FS), and they play at Arrowhead, a very tough stadium. They might scare rookie Luck a little bit. Also, Luck is a turnover machine on the road. The only disadvantage, and a huge one, is that offense. Their best player has 10 yds in 10 carries against the 29th run defense in the NFL? They get shutout by the 2nd team that allows the most points in the league? It couldn't be worse.
As I said
earlier, if IND loses @KC, then we would like CIN winning @PIT too
and MIN upsetting HOU. With that, IND secures a playoff spot,
but not the 5th spot. What I mean is, they will play hard when facing HOU in Week 17 just to avoid playing @NE/DEN/HOU, the 3rd seed, which is what will happen if they lose both games & CIN wins out. If all this happens, IND wins the final game and we end up at #2 and HOU at #3.
I know all this sounded really crazy, but here is my question: Which of these scenarios are more likely to happen?
#1
-A top 5 defense and an offense led by 2nd best QB of this era loses at home to CLE and/or KC.
#2
-IND loses at KC in Crennel's (probably) final game at home.
-HOU loses to MIN led by IMO the best offensive player in the league.
-CIN wins at PIT. Tough game here. This game and SNF (God, how we lost to them...:steamed
will set the tone of the week.
-IND wins vs HOU.
Anyways, I don't think there's a lot of chance of jumping over DEN or HOU, but as they say "Any given Sunday" & "We've seen crazier things happen before".