The Denver Broncos’ Week 14 clash with the Las Vegas Raiders might not be grabbing national headlines, but make no mistake-this one carries serious playoff weight.
It’s a divisional game, and that always ups the ante. But this matchup is doing more than just stirring up AFC West rivalry-it’s shaping the top of the AFC playoff picture.
With the New England Patriots currently holding the edge in the race for the No. 1 seed, the Broncos are in a position where every win counts double. And this one?
It might count even more than that.
Here’s why: a win over the Raiders would give Denver a perfect 6-0 record against common opponents with the Patriots. New England, thanks to a season-opening loss to these same Raiders, can do no better than 5-1 in that category.
That seemingly minor detail could end up being the difference in a tiebreaker scenario for the top seed. In essence, if the Broncos take care of business in Vegas, it’s the equivalent of a head-to-head win over the Patriots-without the two teams ever actually facing off.
So yes, this game matters. A lot.
And it turns out those gritty, not-so-pretty wins earlier in the season-over teams like the Titans, Jets, and yes, the Raiders-are aging like fine wine. In a league where style points don’t show up in the standings, the Broncos are seeing the payoff of just finding ways to win.
It’s a reminder that in the NFL, the “how” doesn’t always matter. The “W” does.
The Patriots are on their bye this week, riding a 10-game win streak and sitting at 11-1. They’ll come out of the break with a tough stretch-Buffalo and Baltimore loom large. That gives the Broncos a golden opportunity to draw even in the standings with a win over the Raiders.
But don’t expect this one to be a layup. It’s a rivalry game on the road, and while the Raiders haven’t been consistent, they’ve shown they can play spoiler-just ask New England.
Still, the Broncos have serious momentum. Winners of nine straight, they’re one of the hottest teams in the league, and they’re playing with a chip on their shoulder and a clear path to the top seed in the conference.
After this, Denver hosts the Packers in what could be a measuring-stick game against another playoff-caliber team. But first, they’ve got to take care of what’s in front of them.
This isn’t just about checking off another win. It’s about positioning.
It’s about leverage. It’s about sending a message that the Broncos aren’t just back-they’re a legitimate threat to run the table in the AFC.
And if they can get to 11-2 by the end of the week, they’ll be right where they want to be: in the driver’s seat, with destiny in their hands.
So while this one might fly under the radar for casual fans, those in Broncos Country know exactly what’s on the line. Win ugly, win clean, win however you have to-but win.
Because this one could be the difference between playing in January and playing at home in January. And that’s a big-time difference.