Broncos at Bills
THE STORY: There are plenty of playoff scenarios in the AFC West, but none are more straightforward than the first one involving the Denver Broncos. If they win their last two games, including Saturday against the host Buffalo Bills, they will win the division and advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Denver put itself in a slightly tougher spot when its six-game winning streak was snapped by New England 41-23 on Sunday, but still leads the West by one game over San Diego and Oakland and two over Kansas City. The Broncos, who have won five straight on the road, could also wrap up the West on Saturday with a win, coupled with a Raiders’ loss at the Chiefs. The Bills have lost seven straight after their 30-23 setback to Miami on Sunday to complete their journey from first to worst in the AFC East.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Broncos -1.5, O/U 41
ABOUT THE BRONCOS (8-6): Denver rushed for 252 yards against New England – 167 in the first quarter – and has the NFL’s No. 1 ground unit at 163.1 yards per game. Willis McGahee, who leads the Broncos with 990 rushing yards, left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury but was a full participant in practice Wednesday. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has 18 catches for an NFL-high 338 yards in three December games. Denver’s defense goes from being shredded by Tom Brady to facing Ryan Fitzpatrick (22 touchdowns, NFL-leading 19 interceptions).
ABOUT THE BILLS (5-9): Buffalo really started to spiral out of control when Fred Jackson was lost for the season with a broken leg suffered in the first meeting with Miami in Week 11. In the nine full games prior to his injury, Jackson averaged 145.4 yards from scrimmage. His replacement – C.J. Spiller – has averaged 98.7 in four starts. The Bills’ defense allows 26.5 points per game – sixth-worst in the NFL – and 32 per game during the losing streak. They also permit 139.5 yards rushing per game (fourth-worst), not a good sign with the run-happy Broncos coming to town.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. There is a possibility all four AFC West teams will finish 8-8. If so, the Chiefs would win the tiebreaker based on best division record.
2. Denver can also clinch a playoff berth with a win, coupled with losses by the Jets, Bengals and Titans.
3. McGahee rushed for 3,365 yards with the Bills in his first three NFL seasons.