Why did the Denver Broncos get the AFC top seed? The tiebreaker with the Patriots explained

The NFL regular season wrapped up in Week 18, finalizing the 14-team playoff field. The Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers secured the last postseason spots, while the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks locked up the No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC, respectively. That means both teams will enjoy a first-round bye in the Wild Card round.

Seattle dominated the NFC, finishing two games ahead of the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, while Denver narrowly edged the New England Patriots for the top spot in the AFC.

How the Broncos clinched top AFC seed ahead of the Patriots

Both Denver and New England finished Week 18 with identical 14-3 records, forcing the NFL to use tiebreakers to determine the No. 1 seed.

As the Broncos and the Patriots didn’t play each other during the regular season, head-to-head didn’t come into play. The two teams also had the same conference record in the AFC, winning nine games and losing three.

Both teams beat the Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and New York Giants. But the Patriots’ shocking Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, who the Broncos defeated twice, ultimately gave Denver the edge. That lone Raiders victory was one of only three wins the team managed all season, making it a costly stumble for New England.

Wild Card matchups set

As a result, the Patriots, now the No. 2 seed, will face the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round on Sunday, Jan. 11. The Broncos, meanwhile, get a bye, giving them an extra week to rest and prepare for the Divisional round starting Saturday, Jan. 17.

Consult the full Wild Card schedule, including kickoff times.

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