The NFL playoff picture enters its fourth quarter, and the Denver Broncos are nowhere to be found. That shouldn't be surprising, as the Denver Broncos are 3-9 and have just fired Josh McDaniels. It should come as no surprise when outlets release their power rankings to find the Denver Broncos at the very bottom--they've been there for weeks. However, SB Nation Atlanta's Unbiased Power Rankings continue to keep the Broncos in the fourth of their five tiers.
Here's who the Broncos are grouped with:
Because they only take into account what happens on the field, these rankings do not reflect the impact Josh McDaniels' firing will have on the Broncos. With Eric Studesville as the interim head coach, the Broncos will need to determine what Tim Tebow's role is with the team for the rest of the season and in the future. Instability may be with the Broncos for the rest of the season, and a descent into tier V is likely.
Among teams in tier IV, the Broncos have lost to both the San Francisco 49ers (Spygate II) and the St. Louis Rams The Denver Broncos face the Arizona Cardinals on the road this Sunday. The Cardinals are 3-9 with a seven-game losing streak. Seems like a good test for Eric Studesville in his first head coaching chance.
SBNation.com's Power Rankings when they are available.