Clough: Broncos have better shot at beating Patriots than Titans

It may be counter-intuitive to think that the Denver Broncos have a better shot at beating the 10-2 New England Patriots in two weeks at home than they do beating the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in Nashville.

Tennessee’s only likely path to a playoff berth runs through the AFC South, wherein it is tied with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans at 6-6. And New England, with future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, has the AFC East all but locked up.

But Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan’s Sandy Clough said Tuesday that those stats might just be the reason why the Broncos could struggle against the Titans and come out on top against the Patriots.

“I base that (theory) fundamentally on the idea that I think Tennessee, if anything, at least within its own division, has more to play for than New England does at this point,” Clough said.

Clough said that Tennessee, at .500, isn’t likely to catch Denver and others in the wild card hunt, and thus its season hangs in the balance in beating the Broncos.

“When you get back to Tennessee at 6-6, its chances at winning the division hinge on beating Denver this Sunday,” Clough said. “And that’s the only way they’re getting into the playoffs. They may have to win out.”

Clough, however, did dub Sunday’s game “big” for the Broncos, who need to win likely two or more of its last four games, also.

“I think under the circumstances the Broncos need to fatten up their percentage when it comes to conference record. And all four of their remaining games are games within the AFC,” Clough said. “And Denver at the moment is 5-3 in the AFC. I think they have to be at least 8-4 to make the playoffs. Now, if they’re 7-5, could they get in? Yeah, it’s possible.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.