NFL playoff picture: How Broncos can clinch the AFC West and No. 1 seed in Week 17

NFL playoff picture: How Broncos can clinch the AFC West and No. 1 seed in Week 17

Update (Christmas night): Denver’s win over the Chiefs on Christmas night keeps both of their scenarios alive for Week 17. The Broncos will clinch the AFC West with a Chargers loss or tie to the Texans on Saturday night. Denver can also clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference with a Patriots loss to the Jets, a Chargers loss or tie to the Texans, a Jaguars loss or tie against the Colts, and a Bills loss or tie against the Eagles.

The Denver Broncos travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas night to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

And the Broncos can make it a wonderful Christmas for themselves and their fans with a win over their division rivals, and a little bit of help from around the rest of the league. Denver can clinch both the AFC West, and the No. 1 seed in the AFC, here in Week 17.

How the Broncos can clinch the AFC West

The Denver Broncos last won the AFC West back in 2015.

Peyton Manning — yes, the guy from the commercials — was their starting quarterback.

But Denver can clinch the AFC West title this week, officially bringing to an end the Kansas City Chiefs’ reign atop the division. With a win over the Chiefs on Christmas night, and a Los Angeles Chargers loss or tie against the Houston Texans on Saturday, the Broncos are AFC West champions.

Denver can also clinch the AFC West with a tie against the Chiefs, provided the Chargers lose to the Texans.

How the Broncos can clinch the No. 1 seed

Not only can Denver clinch the AFC West this weekend, but the Broncos also have a narrow path to clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC, something that again the team has not accomplished since that 2015 season.

However, Denver would need a lot of help to wrap that up this weekend.

First, the Broncos would need to win against the Chiefs on Thursday night. Then, the Broncos would need the New England Patriots to lose to the New York Jets, the Chargers to lose or tie against the Texans, the Jacksonville Jaguars to lose or tie against the Indianapolis Colts, and the Buffalo Bills to lose or tie against the Philadelphia Eagles.

So you’re saying there’s a chance …

AFC standings entering Week 17

Here are the full AFC standings heading into Week 17:

x – Team has clinched a playoff spot
e – Team has been eliminated from playoff contention

AFC West standings entering Week 17

Here are the full AFC West standings with two weeks left in the season:

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#NFL #playoff #picture #Broncos #clinch #AFC #West #seed #Week

Deadspin | Red Sox sliding, Rangers rising ahead of weekend series  Jun 8, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA;  Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) fields a ground ball in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays  at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images   Third baseman Caleb Durbin is hot, but the same can’t be said for the Boston Red Sox.  Boston will enter its Friday night home game against the Texas Rangers, the opener of a three-game series, looking to end a four-game losing streak. Most recently, the Red Sox fell 7-5 at Tampa Bay on Wednesday, when Durbin went 3-for-4 and homered twice.  Durbin struggled at the plate for most of the season, as he is batting .204 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 60 games. However, he is hitting .333 (9-for-27) in June, and he is 15-for-44 (.341) dating back to May 28.  “Honestly, the last couple days felt really good,” Durbin said after the Wednesday loss to the Rays. “Felt like I was really getting good swings on the ball, and when I was going to hit them, it was going to be good results. Not just feeling like I’m putting good swings on the ball but trusting that the result would be good and trending in the right direction. But obviously still a lot of work to be done.  “Obviously, I haven’t been in the big leagues super long, but playing this game for most of my life, I’ve struggled at every level, so I haven’t gone a season without struggling. Just knowing that’s part of the process helps me continue to focus on the work I’m putting in.”  Wednesday was the first multi-homer game of Durbin’s major league career, but the loss left the Red Sox a season-worst 12 games below .500. Boston dropped four games on its five-game road trip, but things haven’t gone well for the Red Sox at home this season, either. Boston is 10-21 at Fenway Park — the worst home record in the big leagues.  “Really tough,” Durbin said when asked about the road trip, “but we’ve got to bounce back. Off day (Thursday) will be a good reset, for sure. But then, obviously, you have to get something going at home. It’s not really a choice at this point. Got to get it going.”  Texas is expected to start right-hander Jack Leiter (3-5, 4.69 ERA) on the mound Friday. He is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA in two career starts against Boston, both last year.   In his latest outing, Leiter gave up five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings during a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.  Right-hander Sonny Gray (7-1, 3.20 ERA) is Boston’s probable starter. Gray is 11-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 19 career games (18 starts) vs. the Rangers.  Over his past six starts, Gray is 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA. On June 5 against the New York Yankees, Gray yielded three runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings en route to a 5-3 win.  Texas is coming off back-to-back victories to complete a three-game series at Kansas City. A rain-delayed 4-2 win over the Royals on Thursday gave the Rangers a .500 record (34-34) for the first time since May 1.  The Rangers have won nine of their past 12 games and each of their past four series.  “Some guys have really stepped up in the bullpen,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “Our starting pitching, for the most part, has been really good as well, but we’ve had some timely hits, played small-ball, played the long ball, so I think we’re finally coming together as a team and finding different ways to win. That’s the biggest difference than maybe the beginning of the year.”  Texas’ Joc Pederson sat out on Thursday. The designated hitter left the Rangers’ 6-4, 10-inning win over Kansas City on Wednesday due to left hip discomfort.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Red #Sox #sliding #Rangers #rising #ahead #weekend #seriesJun 8, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) fields a ground ball in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Third baseman Caleb Durbin is hot, but the same can’t be said for the Boston Red Sox.

Boston will enter its Friday night home game against the Texas Rangers, the opener of a three-game series, looking to end a four-game losing streak. Most recently, the Red Sox fell 7-5 at Tampa Bay on Wednesday, when Durbin went 3-for-4 and homered twice.

Durbin struggled at the plate for most of the season, as he is batting .204 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 60 games. However, he is hitting .333 (9-for-27) in June, and he is 15-for-44 (.341) dating back to May 28.

“Honestly, the last couple days felt really good,” Durbin said after the Wednesday loss to the Rays. “Felt like I was really getting good swings on the ball, and when I was going to hit them, it was going to be good results. Not just feeling like I’m putting good swings on the ball but trusting that the result would be good and trending in the right direction. But obviously still a lot of work to be done.

“Obviously, I haven’t been in the big leagues super long, but playing this game for most of my life, I’ve struggled at every level, so I haven’t gone a season without struggling. Just knowing that’s part of the process helps me continue to focus on the work I’m putting in.”

Wednesday was the first multi-homer game of Durbin’s major league career, but the loss left the Red Sox a season-worst 12 games below .500. Boston dropped four games on its five-game road trip, but things haven’t gone well for the Red Sox at home this season, either. Boston is 10-21 at Fenway Park — the worst home record in the big leagues.

“Really tough,” Durbin said when asked about the road trip, “but we’ve got to bounce back. Off day (Thursday) will be a good reset, for sure. But then, obviously, you have to get something going at home. It’s not really a choice at this point. Got to get it going.”


Texas is expected to start right-hander Jack Leiter (3-5, 4.69 ERA) on the mound Friday. He is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA in two career starts against Boston, both last year.

In his latest outing, Leiter gave up five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings during a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.

Right-hander Sonny Gray (7-1, 3.20 ERA) is Boston’s probable starter. Gray is 11-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 19 career games (18 starts) vs. the Rangers.

Over his past six starts, Gray is 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA. On June 5 against the New York Yankees, Gray yielded three runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings en route to a 5-3 win.

Texas is coming off back-to-back victories to complete a three-game series at Kansas City. A rain-delayed 4-2 win over the Royals on Thursday gave the Rangers a .500 record (34-34) for the first time since May 1.

The Rangers have won nine of their past 12 games and each of their past four series.

“Some guys have really stepped up in the bullpen,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “Our starting pitching, for the most part, has been really good as well, but we’ve had some timely hits, played small-ball, played the long ball, so I think we’re finally coming together as a team and finding different ways to win. That’s the biggest difference than maybe the beginning of the year.”

Texas’ Joc Pederson sat out on Thursday. The designated hitter left the Rangers’ 6-4, 10-inning win over Kansas City on Wednesday due to left hip discomfort.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Red #Sox #sliding #Rangers #rising #ahead #weekend #series">Deadspin | Red Sox sliding, Rangers rising ahead of weekend series  Jun 8, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA;  Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) fields a ground ball in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays  at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images   Third baseman Caleb Durbin is hot, but the same can’t be said for the Boston Red Sox.  Boston will enter its Friday night home game against the Texas Rangers, the opener of a three-game series, looking to end a four-game losing streak. Most recently, the Red Sox fell 7-5 at Tampa Bay on Wednesday, when Durbin went 3-for-4 and homered twice.  Durbin struggled at the plate for most of the season, as he is batting .204 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 60 games. However, he is hitting .333 (9-for-27) in June, and he is 15-for-44 (.341) dating back to May 28.  “Honestly, the last couple days felt really good,” Durbin said after the Wednesday loss to the Rays. “Felt like I was really getting good swings on the ball, and when I was going to hit them, it was going to be good results. Not just feeling like I’m putting good swings on the ball but trusting that the result would be good and trending in the right direction. But obviously still a lot of work to be done.  “Obviously, I haven’t been in the big leagues super long, but playing this game for most of my life, I’ve struggled at every level, so I haven’t gone a season without struggling. Just knowing that’s part of the process helps me continue to focus on the work I’m putting in.”  Wednesday was the first multi-homer game of Durbin’s major league career, but the loss left the Red Sox a season-worst 12 games below .500. Boston dropped four games on its five-game road trip, but things haven’t gone well for the Red Sox at home this season, either. Boston is 10-21 at Fenway Park — the worst home record in the big leagues.  “Really tough,” Durbin said when asked about the road trip, “but we’ve got to bounce back. Off day (Thursday) will be a good reset, for sure. But then, obviously, you have to get something going at home. It’s not really a choice at this point. Got to get it going.”  Texas is expected to start right-hander Jack Leiter (3-5, 4.69 ERA) on the mound Friday. He is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA in two career starts against Boston, both last year.   In his latest outing, Leiter gave up five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings during a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.  Right-hander Sonny Gray (7-1, 3.20 ERA) is Boston’s probable starter. Gray is 11-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 19 career games (18 starts) vs. the Rangers.  Over his past six starts, Gray is 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA. On June 5 against the New York Yankees, Gray yielded three runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings en route to a 5-3 win.  Texas is coming off back-to-back victories to complete a three-game series at Kansas City. A rain-delayed 4-2 win over the Royals on Thursday gave the Rangers a .500 record (34-34) for the first time since May 1.  The Rangers have won nine of their past 12 games and each of their past four series.  “Some guys have really stepped up in the bullpen,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “Our starting pitching, for the most part, has been really good as well, but we’ve had some timely hits, played small-ball, played the long ball, so I think we’re finally coming together as a team and finding different ways to win. That’s the biggest difference than maybe the beginning of the year.”  Texas’ Joc Pederson sat out on Thursday. The designated hitter left the Rangers’ 6-4, 10-inning win over Kansas City on Wednesday due to left hip discomfort.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Red #Sox #sliding #Rangers #rising #ahead #weekend #series

One of the biggest sporting events on the planet is about to begin.

Starting on Thursday, the FIFA World Cup gets underway in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The World Cup begins with the group stage, as the 48 teams in the field battle it out to secure one of the 32 spots in the knockout stage.

Here is the full schedule, along with television information, for the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All times listed are Eastern.

World Cup group stage schedule and scores

Group A: Mexico 2, South Africa 0
Group A: South Korea vs. Czechia, 10:oo p.m., FS1

Group B: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3:00 p.m., FOX
Group D: United States vs. Paraguay, 9:00 p.m., FOX

Group B: Qatar vs. Switzerland, 3:00 p.m., FOX
Group C: Brazil vs. Morocco, 6:00 p.m., FOX
Group C: Haiti vs. Scotland, 9:00 p.m., FOX

Group D: Australia vs. Türkiye, 12:00 a.m., FS1
Group E: Germany vs. Curaçao, 1:00 p.m., FOX
Group F: Netherlands vs. Japan, 4:00 p.m., FOX
Group E: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, 7:00 p.m., FS1
Group F: Sweden vs. Tunisia, 10:00 p.m., FS1

Group H: Spain vs. Cabo Verde, 12:00 p.m., FOX
Group G: Belgium vs. Egypt, 3:00 p.m., FOX
Group H: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, 6:00 p.m., FS1
Group G: Iran vs. New Zealand, 9:00 p.m., FS1

Group I: France vs. Senegal, 3:oo p.m., FOX
Group I: Iraq vs. Norway, 6:00 p.m., FOX
Group J: Argentina vs. Algeria, 9:00 p.m., FOX

Group J: Austria vs. Jordan, 12:00 a.m., FS1
Group K: Portugal vs. DR Congo, 1:00 p.m., FOX
Group L: England vs. Croatia, 4:00 p.m., FOX
Group L: Ghana vs. Panama, 7:00 p.m., FS1
Group K: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, 10:00 p.m., FS1

Group A: Czechia vs. South Africa, 12:00 p.m., FOX
Group B: Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3:00 p.m, FOX
Group B: Canada vs. Qatar, 6:00 p.m., FS1
Group A: Mexico vs. South Korea, 9:00 p.m., FOX

Group D: United States vs. Australia, 3:00 p.m., FOX
Group C: Scotland vs. Morocco, 6:00 p.m., FOX
Group C: Brazil vs. Haiti, 8:30 p.m., FOX
Group D: Türkiye vs. Paraguay, 11:00 p.m., FS1

Group F: Netherlands vs. Sweden, 1:00 p.m., FOX
Group E: Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m. FOX
Group E: Ecuador vs. Curaçao, 8:00 p.m., FS1

Group F: Tunisia vs. Japan, 12:00 a.m., FS1
Group H: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 12:00 p.m., FOX
Group G: Belgium vs. Iran, 3:00 p.m., FS1
Group H: Uruguay vs. Cabo Verde, 6:00 p.m., FS1
Group G: New Zealand vs. Egypt, 9:00 p.m., FS1

Group J: Argentina vs. Austria, 1:00 p.m., FOX
Group I: France vs. Iraq, 5:00 p.m., FOX
Group I: Norway vs. Senegal, 8:00 p.m, FOX
Group J: Jordan vs. Algeria, 11:00 p.m., FS1

Group K: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1:00 p.m., FOX
Group L: England vs. Ghana, 4:00 p.m., FOX
Group L: Panama vs. Croatia, 7:oo p.m., FOX
Group K: Colombia vs. DR Congo, 10:00 p.m., FS1

Group B: Switzerland vs. Canada, 3:00 p.m., FOX
Group B: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, 3:00 p.m., FS1
Group C: Morocco vs. Haiti, 6:00 p.m., FS1
Group C: Scotland vs. Brazil, 6:00 p.m., FOX
Group A: South Africa vs. South Korea, 9:00 p.m., FS1
Group A: Czechia vs. Mexico, 9:00 p.m., FOX

Group E: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m., FS1
Group E: Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m., FOX
Group F: Tunisia vs. Netherlands, 7:00 p.m., FOX
Group F: Japan vs. Sweden, 7:00 p.m., FS1
Group D: Türkiye vs. United States, 10:00 p.m., FOX
Group D: Paraguay vs. Australia, 10:00 p.m., FS1

Group I: Norway vs. France, 3:00 p.m., FOX
Group I: Senegal vs. Iraq, 3:00 p.m., FS1
Group H: Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, 8:00 p.m., FS1
Group H: Uruguay vs. Spain, 8:00 p.m., FOX
Group G: New Zealand vs. Belgium, 11:00 p.m., FOX
Group G: Egypt vs. Iran, 11:00 p.m., FS1

Group L: Panama vs. England, 5:00 p.m., FOX
Group L: Croatia vs. Ghana, 5:00 p.m., FS1
Group K: Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30 p.m., FOX
Group K: DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Group J: Algeria vs. Austria, 10:00 p.m., FS1
Group J: Jordan vs. Argentina, 10:00 p.m., FOX

#World #Cup #Group #Stage #Schedule #scores #watch">World Cup Group Stage: Schedule, scores and how to watch  One of the biggest sporting events on the planet is about to begin.Starting on Thursday, the FIFA World Cup gets underway in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The World Cup begins with the group stage, as the 48 teams in the field battle it out to secure one of the 32 spots in the knockout stage.Here is the full schedule, along with television information, for the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All times listed are Eastern.World Cup group stage schedule and scoresGroup A: Mexico 2, South Africa 0Group A: South Korea vs. Czechia, 10:oo p.m., FS1Group B: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3:00 p.m., FOXGroup D: United States vs. Paraguay, 9:00 p.m., FOXGroup B: Qatar vs. Switzerland, 3:00 p.m., FOXGroup C: Brazil vs. Morocco, 6:00 p.m., FOXGroup C: Haiti vs. Scotland, 9:00 p.m., FOXGroup D: Australia vs. Türkiye, 12:00 a.m., FS1Group E: Germany vs. Curaçao, 1:00 p.m., FOXGroup F: Netherlands vs. Japan, 4:00 p.m., FOXGroup E: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, 7:00 p.m., FS1Group F: Sweden vs. Tunisia, 10:00 p.m., FS1Group H: Spain vs. Cabo Verde, 12:00 p.m., FOXGroup G: Belgium vs. Egypt, 3:00 p.m., FOXGroup H: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, 6:00 p.m., FS1Group G: Iran vs. New Zealand, 9:00 p.m., FS1Group I: France vs. Senegal, 3:oo p.m., FOXGroup I: Iraq vs. Norway, 6:00 p.m., FOXGroup J: Argentina vs. Algeria, 9:00 p.m., FOXGroup J: Austria vs. Jordan, 12:00 a.m., FS1Group K: Portugal vs. DR Congo, 1:00 p.m., FOXGroup L: England vs. Croatia, 4:00 p.m., FOXGroup L: Ghana vs. Panama, 7:00 p.m., FS1Group K: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, 10:00 p.m., FS1Group A: Czechia vs. South Africa, 12:00 p.m., FOXGroup B: Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3:00 p.m, FOXGroup B: Canada vs. Qatar, 6:00 p.m., FS1Group A: Mexico vs. South Korea, 9:00 p.m., FOXGroup D: United States vs. Australia, 3:00 p.m., FOXGroup C: Scotland vs. Morocco, 6:00 p.m., FOXGroup C: Brazil vs. Haiti, 8:30 p.m., FOXGroup D: Türkiye vs. Paraguay, 11:00 p.m., FS1Group F: Netherlands vs. Sweden, 1:00 p.m., FOXGroup E: Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m. FOXGroup E: Ecuador vs. Curaçao, 8:00 p.m., FS1Group F: Tunisia vs. Japan, 12:00 a.m., FS1Group H: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 12:00 p.m., FOXGroup G: Belgium vs. Iran, 3:00 p.m., FS1Group H: Uruguay vs. Cabo Verde, 6:00 p.m., FS1Group G: New Zealand vs. Egypt, 9:00 p.m., FS1Group J: Argentina vs. Austria, 1:00 p.m., FOXGroup I: France vs. Iraq, 5:00 p.m., FOXGroup I: Norway vs. Senegal, 8:00 p.m, FOXGroup J: Jordan vs. Algeria, 11:00 p.m., FS1Group K: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1:00 p.m., FOXGroup L: England vs. Ghana, 4:00 p.m., FOXGroup L: Panama vs. Croatia, 7:oo p.m., FOXGroup K: Colombia vs. DR Congo, 10:00 p.m., FS1Group B: Switzerland vs. Canada, 3:00 p.m., FOXGroup B: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, 3:00 p.m., FS1Group C: Morocco vs. Haiti, 6:00 p.m., FS1Group C: Scotland vs. Brazil, 6:00 p.m., FOXGroup A: South Africa vs. South Korea, 9:00 p.m., FS1Group A: Czechia vs. Mexico, 9:00 p.m., FOXGroup E: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m., FS1Group E: Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m., FOXGroup F: Tunisia vs. Netherlands, 7:00 p.m., FOXGroup F: Japan vs. Sweden, 7:00 p.m., FS1Group D: Türkiye vs. United States, 10:00 p.m., FOXGroup D: Paraguay vs. Australia, 10:00 p.m., FS1Group I: Norway vs. France, 3:00 p.m., FOXGroup I: Senegal vs. Iraq, 3:00 p.m., FS1Group H: Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, 8:00 p.m., FS1Group H: Uruguay vs. Spain, 8:00 p.m., FOXGroup G: New Zealand vs. Belgium, 11:00 p.m., FOXGroup G: Egypt vs. Iran, 11:00 p.m., FS1Group L: Panama vs. England, 5:00 p.m., FOXGroup L: Croatia vs. Ghana, 5:00 p.m., FS1Group K: Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30 p.m., FOXGroup K: DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan, 7:30 p.m., FS1Group J: Algeria vs. Austria, 10:00 p.m., FS1Group J: Jordan vs. Argentina, 10:00 p.m., FOX  #World #Cup #Group #Stage #Schedule #scores #watch

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