Who should a Broncos fan root for this weekend?

DETROIT — Saturday brings a perfect tripleheader for the Broncos fan … because all three games have relevance, and the stakes increase with the passage of the day.

Obviously, the Broncos’ game at Ford Field against the 9-4 Detroit Lions carries the most weight. Independent of other results, a win takes the Broncos’ playoff chances to 68 percent, according to The New York Times’ playoff simulator. Those odds drop to 31 percent with a defeat.

But how do other games affect the Broncos?

According to the NYT, the Broncos’ baseline playoff chances sit at 42 percent heading into Saturday.

MINNESOTA (7-6) AT CINCINNATI (7-6)

Saturday, 11 a.m. MST

This one is obvious, given that the Vikings and Bengals sit in opposite conferences. A Vikings win increases the Broncos’ chances to 48 percent; a Cincinnati triumph drops them to 36 percent.

PREFERRED WINNER: Minnesota

PITTSBURGH (7-6) AT INDIANAPOLIS (7-6)

Saturday, 2:30 p.m. MST

Here, it gets tricky. Both teams have conference-record tiebreaker edges on the Broncos. A Steelers win increases the Broncos’ odds to 45 percent; a Colts win moves Denver to 43 percent.

PREFERRED WINNER: Pittsburgh (but barely)

CHICAGO (5-8) at CLEVELAND (8-5)

Sunday, 11 a.m. MST

PREFERRED WINNER: Chicago

HOUSTON (7-6) AT TENNESSEE (5-8)

Sunday, 11 a.m. MST

PREFERRED WINNER: Tennessee

KANSAS CITY (8-5) AT NEW ENGLAND (3-10)

Sunday, 11 a.m. MST

PREFERRED WINNER: New England

DALLAS (10-3) AT BUFFALO (7-6)

Sunday, 2:25 p.m. MST

PREFERRED WINNER: Dallas

BALTIMORE (10-3) AT JACKSONVILLE (8-5)

Sunday, 6:20 p.m. MST

PREFERRED WINNER: Baltimore

Denver gets a slight bump from a Ravens win over the AFC South leaders.

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