Klis: Broncos fans should ‘concede division,’ focus on wild card

With both the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the Denver Broncos in the race for the postseason, and with both AFC West foes fighting it out on Thursday Night Football this week, 104.3 The Fan’s “The Drive” co-host DMac heard people asking who they should root for.

“I was like, ‘I’d root for the Raiders,’” DMac said — a phrase in any other context would earn a leery eye from most Broncos fans.

“The division’s gone. First time in a long time, but who cares?” DMac said.

Indeed, the leader in the clubhouse for the AFC West crown appears to be the Raiders, who not only sit atop the division but the entire conference at 10-2.

And with the Broncos two games back with four to go, 9News Broncos Insider Mike Klis said, “Concede the division.”

“I say don’t even worry about the division,” said Klis, who filled in as DMac’s co-host on “The Drive” Tuesday.

“The way it plays out on these tiebreakers, I think Kansas City has a chance to get in the Broncos way. The Miami Dolphins obviously have a chance to get in the Broncos way. And then the Ravens and Steelers, depending on what happens,” Klis said. “To me, those are the ones you eyeball.”

“The Raiders are kind of off the scoreboard if you’re scoreboard watching here in the final four games. It’s the Chiefs, Dolphins, Steelers and Ravens.”

If Denver were to win its remaining four games, it would take down three of the five teams ahead of them in the AFC standings — the Raiders, Chiefs and New England Patriots.

But Klis said, though it doesn’t mean its chances of winning a Super Bowl are diminished in any way, it’s unlikely the Broncos can run the table with the issues it has right now and with the opponents they face.

“How do you go 4-0 with these four games left? I mean, come on. We’ve seen the Broncos are a good team, but they’re not the type of team where you expect them to go 4-0 at Tennessee, home against New England, at Kansas City and home against the Raiders,” Klis said.

“I just don’t see 4-0 in these final four. That doesn’t mean they can’t win the Super Bowl, but it’s just not lining up right now.”

Along with several key injuries — Kapri Bibbs heading to injured reserve with an ankle injury, Trevor Siemian possibly missing a second-straight game with a foot sprain, and Brandon Marshall again tweaking his hamstring among them — the Broncos also face the toughest remaining schedule.

Denver’s remaining opponents, the Patriots, Chiefs, Raiders and Tennessee Titans, combine for a .729 winning percentage through 12 games.

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