Broncos have easiest run in?

[Darren Halford]

Having just checked the fixtures for all AFC play off contenders,the Denver Broncos may have a better chance than first thought in their quest for post season action.
They clearly have the easiest schedule(based on the won,lost record)of remaining opponents,this of course means nothing if they can't win those games!

[Thomas Hennes]

Thought it'd be nice to recap the upcoming schedule for AFC wild-card contenders, so here goes (I included the Bills & Chargers in the race, so there are actually 4 playoffs spots up for grabs - I think we all agree the Texans have the Central crown under wraps, save for a meltdown of epic proportions!):

Edit : updated with week 12 results
Edit 2 : updated with week 13 results - Chargers removed because of decisive 3 game lead over Raiders
Edit 3 : updated with week 14 results - I haven't removed the Bills yet, but for all intents & purposes they have captured the East division, having a 1-game lead and favorable tie-breakers with 2 games to go ; Denver is still listed but I believe they are officially eliminated from the race (can't catch up with the Bills or Jets, and have an unfavorable tie-breaker with the Raiders, whose record they can only tie with at best)

Buffalo (10-4)
vs. St. Louis (5-6 > 5-7) (won 28-2)
at Oakland (8-4 > 8-5) (won 21-20)
at N.Y. Jets (9-4 > 9-5) (won 27-12)
vs. San Diego (12-2)
vs. New England (7-7)
Total strength of schedule : 19-9

N.Y. Jets (9-5)
vs. Atlanta (4-7 > 4-8) (won 30-14)
at Cincinnati (7-5 > 7-6) (won 16-14)
vs. Buffalo (9-4 > 10-4) (lost 12-27)
vs. Houston (12-2)
vs. Miami (2-12)
Total strength of schedule : 14-14

Oakland (8-5-1)
at Detroit (3-8 > 4-8) (lost 10-19)
vs. Buffalo (8-4 > 9-4) (lost 20-21)
at Denver (6-7 > 6-7-1) (tied 16-16)
at New England (7-7)
at San Diego (12-2)
Total strength of schedule : 19-9

Cincinnati (7-7)
at Washington (4-7 > 4-8) (won 30-24, OT)
vs. N.Y. Jets (8-4 > 9-4) (lost 14-16)
at Pittsburgh (4-9 > 5-9) (lost 17-20)
at Miami (2-12)
at Houston (12-2)
Total strength of schedule : 14-14

New England (7-7)
at San Francisco (7-3-1 > 8-3-1) (lost 14-24)
at San Diego (10-2 > 11-2) (lost 0-30)
at Miami (2-11 > 2-12) (won 20-5)
vs. Oakland (8-5-1)
at Buffalo (10-4)
Total strength of schedule : 18-9-1

Denver (6-7-1)
at Tampa Bay (3-8 > 4-8) (lost 10-19)
vs. Baltimore (3-9 > 3-10) (won 27-24)
vs. Oakland (8-5 > 8-5-1) (tied 16-16)
at Pittsburgh (5-9)
at Kansas City (1-13)
Total strength of schedule : 6-22

Some interesting things in there. First of all, your schedule, Darren, is clearly the softest (at least on paper), but you're also the team with the least room for error. I'm glad to see that Buffalo closes out with a nightmare of a schedule (with the current superbowl champ Rams as the supposedly 'softest' team), and things aren't all that much easier for New England. While San Diego's schedule might appear mild at first glance, it's a lot tougher when you factor out their game against the Chiefs, and it will likely come down to the wire against the Raiders - whoever wins their confrontation on week 16 will likely capture the West crown. Cincinnati is a dangerous sleeper for this wild card race, and I reckon the Jets - Bengals game on week 13 will be crucial for both teams.

All in all, this looks very exciting. Good luck to all involved!