NFL Week 15 Preview
As the NFL enters Week 15, a couple of significant matchups are on the horizon, including a game that could serve as a Super Bowl preview. This Sunday, the Denver Broncos are set to host the Green Bay Packers, with kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET. By the end of the game, either team could find itself leading the conference.
The Packers come into this matchup with a record of 9 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie, and they’re riding a four-game winning streak. Recently, they managed to take first place in their division from the Bears. Meanwhile, the Broncos have an impressive record of 11-2 and just defeated the Raiders in Las Vegas, marking their tenth consecutive win.
In this faceoff, Green Bay is favored by 2.5 points despite being the visiting team.
Playoff Implications for the Packers
Currently, the Packers hold a slim half-game lead over the Bears and a 1.5-game edge on the Lions in the division standings. This week, the Bears will be facing the Browns, while the Lions take on the Rams. While Green Bay can’t clinch a playoff spot this week, a victory combined with a Lions loss could position them well for a wild card spot in the upcoming week.
The Packers have a 58% chance of winning their division and could host a wild-card playoff game according to a simulator. A win against the Broncos would bump that chance up to 62%, but a loss would lower it to 54%.
Currently sitting in second place, the Packers are just half a game behind the top-seeded Rams. If the Lions lose to the Rams, it pushes the Packers closer to their playoff goals, but an upset by the Lions could open up opportunities for the Packers to snag the No. 1 seed. The playoff simulator gives them a 10% probability of securing that top position. A win this week could enhance those odds to 19%, and if the Lions manage to beat the Rams, the Packers’ chances would rise to 27%. On the flip side, a loss would plummet their No. 1 seed chances down to just 1%.
Broncos Playoff Scenario
For the Broncos, a win this week would secure their spot in the playoffs, but they’re not in a position to claim the division title until next week at the earliest. The Chargers currently have a two-game lead over them, and the Broncos lost the first head-to-head meeting. They’ll face off again in Week 18, making that game pivotal if the Broncos falter late in the season. As for this week, the Chargers are traveling to compete against the Chiefs. Denver enters Sunday with a 47% likelihood of winning the division, but interestingly, that percentage drops to 39% if they win, as the No. 1 seed remains the highest likelihood outcome. A loss would lower their chances of earning that top seed, while their chance of hosting a wild-card game could rise to 56%.
Denver maintains a favorable conference tiebreaker record against the Patriots and leads the conference standings. If both teams secure wins, the game results would still be a draw, and the tiebreak would revert back to their shared matchups. Should the Patriots lose to the Raiders in Week 1, the Broncos will have the edge if they both achieve victories. Right now, they have a 39% chance of claiming the No. 1 seed; a win could enhance that to 55%, while a loss would reduce it to 24%.
This particular matchup doesn’t carry tie-breaking stakes. While the Broncos faced the Packers and Eagles, the Eagles triumphed in their encounter, making it improbable for a tiebreaker involving Green Bay’s record.
