The Broncos enter NFL Week 18 with the No. 1 seed in the AFC within their grasp.
With a win over the Justin Herbert-less Chargers on Sunday, Denver will secure the AFC’s top spot and a bye for the wild-card round. Tie or lose and they could fall as low as the No. 3 seed.
Here’s a look at how various national experts rated the Broncos in their power rankings entering Week 18:
The Athletic (No. 5) | Last week: No. 7
"In his 18th season, Sean Payton is ahead of schedule in Denver.