Broncos would be in playoffs right now, but AFC West champs could be tough

The Denver Broncos survived a six-game gauntlet to open the 2026 season.

In fact, at 4-2, some might even say they thrived.

But it does come with a giant asterisk.

The Broncos defense is playing out of its mind, most recently coming up with clutch moments against the Seahawks last Thursday to help Denver escape with a 17-14 OT win.

However, QB Bo Nix is having the toughest stretch of his career. He’s been so underwhelming that head coach Sean Payton had to answer questions on Monday about whether or not he might bench Nix.

For the record, Payton’s answer was “no” (for now), although he did acknowledge there needs to be improvement.

With Week 7 looming, it’s never too early to take a look at the playoff picture, as right now Denver would be in the dance. Although repeating as AFC West champions could be tough.

Is your team in the playoff mix after Week 6? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/rqlL5RKYZY

— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2026

If the season ended today, the Broncos would be the No. 6 seed and head to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars, a team they rallied against in Week 2 for a win.

The top-4 seeds go to division winners and as you can see in the graphic the Chiefs are current kings of the AFC and AFC West. They’re the last remaining unbeaten team in the conference, moving to 5-0 with an easy win over the Chargers on Sunday.

But all isn’t lost yet in the division. Sure, Denver will eventually need some help and Kansas City to lose a couple games to catch them. However, the Broncos will host the Chiefs in Week 8 at Empower Field at Mile High. If they can beat Arizona this weekend then top K.C., Denver will sit at 6-2.

The Chiefs have to travel to Seattle on Sunday Night Football, a tough test and a game they’re currently 2.5-point underdogs in. If Kansas City loses to the Seahawks then loses to the Broncos, they’d be 5-2. There’s a world in which Denver is leading the division only 12 days from now.

On the other side of the coin, if the Chiefs beat the Broncos for a second time this season, they’d all but have the AFC West wrapped up. K.C. would be either 7-0 or 6-1 while Denver would have at least three losses — a fourth if they get upset at Arizona. With the Chiefs holding the head-to-head tiebreaker, it’d be a near impossible mountain to climb.

There’s a lot of football left to go, but it’s always fun to take a look where things stand. The reality is the Broncos need to keep winning games to secure a spot in the postseason for the third straight year and perhaps another division crown.

To see the full playoff standings, click here.

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