Broncos face top tight end in San Francisco’s Kittle
Coach: Kyle Shanahan (second year — 8-20).
Record: 2-10 (fourth in NFC West). Seattle. pick from Iowa, Kittle is one of the 49ers’ few bright spots. He leads the team in catches (62) and receiving yards (893) and is tied for second in touchdowns (three). Kittle is third in the NFL among tight ends behind Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz (93) and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce (79).
Analysis: Each of the 49ers’ three quarterbacks this year have prioritized Kittle – he has at least five catches in nine of 12 games. … Where Kittle does a lot of his damage is after the catch. His 557 yards postcatch rank third in the NFL and most among tight ends/ receivers. … Said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll last week: “He’s a really talented player. He’s a good blocker as well.” with San Francisco, Sherman has played 10 of 12 games, but is still looking for his first interception. He has 24 tackles and four pass break-ups.
Analysis: One of the best cover cornerbacks of this era, Sherman is a threetime All Pro selection (2012-14) and five-time Pro Bowler (2012-16). He sus- day by day and hopefully play our best football on Sunday to win. We can’t chase the highlights and who’s winning and who’s not winning. That can’t be our focus.”
Here is a close look at the five teams to watch in terms of the Broncos getting the last wild-card playoff spot, through Week 13:
6. Baltimore (7-5)
The Ravens hold the final playoff spot, but are also just a half-game behind Pittsburgh (7-4-1) for the AFC North lead. The teams split their head-to-head games.
Remaining schedule:
at Kansas City (10-2), vs Tampa Bay (5-7), at the Los Angeles Chargers (9-3) and vs. Cleveland (4-7-1).
Key statistic:
The Ravens are first in total defense (281.7 yards per game, nearly 13 fewer yards to secondranked Buffalo) and scoring defense (17.8).
Why the Ravens will make the playoffs:
See the defensive statistics above. Hold teams to less than 20 points and they could win the division. … Rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson replaced an injured Joe Flacco and has won all three of his starts, rushing 54 times for 265 yards.
Why the Ravens won’t make the playoffs:
They lose at Kansas City and at the Chargers. … Jackson is bottled up as a runner and makes rookie-type mistakes as a passer.
7. Miami (6-6)
The Dolphins hold the tiebreaker over the Colts, Broncos and Titans with a 5-4 conference record.
Remaining
Lost 43-16 at vs. Seattle.
schedule:
vs. New England (9-3), at Min- tained a torn Achilles last year and was released by Seattle. … Sherman had at least two interceptions (32 total for his career, most among active players) in his first seven years, including eight apiece in 2012-13. … Sherman plays with expert technique (only two penalties). … “I still see a really good football player,” Seattle offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said last week. “I still see a guy that dissects things really well. His ability to patternread and recognize things is uncanny.” Francisco’s third starting quarterback, replacing Jimmy Garoppolo (torn ACL) and C.J. Beathard (wrist, but healthy now). He is 1-3 nesota (6-5-1), vs. Jacksonville (4-8) and at Buffalo (4-8).
Key statistic:
The Dolphins are third in the NFL with 25 takeaways, helping them overcome woeful rankings of 29th in both yards allowed (399.4) and gained (302.1) per game.
Why the Dolphins make the playoffs:
The dormant pass rush (only 20 sacks) harasses the Patriots’ Tom Brady and the Vikings’ Kirk Cousins.
Why the Dolphins won’t make the playoffs:
Miami will lose to New England and Minnesota the next two weeks after falling behind and not being able to sustain enough offense to rally.
8. Indianapolis (6-6)
The Colts are 5-5 in the AFC.
Remaining schedule:
at Houston (9-3), vs. Dallas (7-5), vs. the New York Giants (4-8) and at Tennessee (6-6).
Key statistic:
Quarterback Andrew Luck, after missing all of last year with a shoulder injury, is second in the league with 32 touchdown passes.
Why the Colts will make the playoffs:
The Colts hold serve at home against Dallas and the Giants. … Tight end Eric Ebron (54 catches-589 yards-11 touchdowns) continues his career year. … The offensive line continues to protect Luck (only 14 sacks allowed).
Why the Colts won’t make the playoffs:
They lose the next two games to the onfire Texans (nine consecutive wins) and Cowboys (four consecutive wins).
9. Broncos (6-6) will
The Broncos are 4-5 in the AFC, but have three conference games remaining. in four starts. For the season, he is 91 of 141 for 1,147 yards, seven touchdowns, five interceptions and a 91.5 rating.
Analysis: The Broncos faced Cincinnati’s Jeff Driskel in his first NFL start Sunday and now get Mullens in his fifth start. … Undrafted from Southern Mississippi, Mullens spent all of 2017 and the first three weeks of 2018 on the practice squad. … He was 30 of 48 for 414 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday’s loss at Seattle. the practice squad two weeks ago, Wilson (6-foot, 194 pounds) is expected to start against the Broncos because Matt Breida (744
Remaining
at San Francisco (2-10), vs. Cleveland (4-7-1), at Oakland (2-10) and vs. the Los Angeles Chargers (9-3).
Key statistic:
The Broncos are fifth in rushing yards per game (132.5) and sacks for (37).
Why the Broncos make the playoffs:
They capitalize on an advantageous schedule, including a Week 17 matchup against a Chargers team that could have their playoff position locked up before kickoff. … Running back Phillip Lindsay (937 yards) not only sails past 1,000 yards but approaches 1,200. … Von Miller (12 1/2 sacks) and Bradley Chubb (10 sacks) both reach 15 sacks.
Why the Broncos won’t make the playoffs:
The secondary is unable to compensate for cornerback Chris Harris’ broken leg. … They lose as a favorite to San Francisco, Cleveland or Oakland.
10. Tennessee (6-6)
The Titans are 4-6 in the conference.
Remaining schedule: schedule:
vs. Jacksonville (4-8), at the New York Giants (4-8), vs. Washington (6-6) and vs. Indianapolis (6-6).
Key statistic: will
The Titans enter Thursday night’s game against the Jaguars ranked ninth in total defense (340.9) and first in red-zone defense (44.1 touchdown percentage).
Why the Titans will make the playoffs:
Their defense takes advantage of games against Jaguars quarterback Cody Kessler and a to-bedetermined quarterback by the Redskins.
Why the Titans won’t make the playoffs:
They simply won’t score enough to keep winning. They are 28th in scoring (19.4 points per game). rushing yards, 13th in the league) has already been ruled out with a left ankle sprain. Wilson has rushed 22 times for 94 yards.
Analysis: An undrafted rookie, Wilson gained 3,205 yards and scored 32 touchdowns in his North Texas career. … In college, he had 17 fumbles (11 lost) and lost a fumble at Seattle on Sunday. rookie from BYU, Warner has started every game at middle linebacker in the 49ers’ 4-3 scheme, posting a team-high 91 tackles, 46 more than any other player.
Analysis: Warner handles the 49ers’ on-field communications from defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, a big ask for a rookie.