The NFC dominated the AFC in interconference matchups this season in a fashion the conference hadn’t done since the first year of the merger. The NFC won 41 of the 64 head-to-head matchups against the AFC Von Miller Jersey White , with the .641 winning percentage being the best for the NFC since going 27-12-1 in 1970 against the upstart AFC for a .688 winning percentage. Since the NFL went to the eight-division format in 2002, this marked just the third time one conference won at least 60 percent of its games against the other conference, with the AFC going 40-24 in 2006 (.625) and 44-20 in 2004 (.688). The NFC won all four division matchups this season, led by the NFC West going 12-4 against the AFC South. The NFC North went 10-6 against the AFC North, the NFC South also took 10 of 16 games against the AFC East, and the NFC East held a 9-7 edge over the AFC West. Cleveland and the Jets were the only teams to go winless against the other conference, while the Rams, Carolina and even last-place Chicago all swept the four games. The discrepancy is easily noted in the playoff race, where three teams with 8-7 records are still in the hunt in the AFC, while Seattle is in danger of missing the playoffs with 10 wins in the NFC. — NO NIGHT GAME: There is not Sunday night game to end the NFL season this year. None of the matchups could guarantee that any night contest would have significance. For example, had Carolina at Atlanta – the best matchup of the 16 games – been switched to the evening and Seattle lost in the afternoon, the Falcons would already have qualified for the offseason. If New Orleans were to beat Tampa Bay in the afternoon, the Panthers would be stuck as the No. 5 seed. Plus, it’s New Year’s Eve, when the viewing audience might not be as big as previous Sundays, and flexing a game to night time on that day might not have made much sense. NBC likely will get some compensation from the league down the road, probably an additional prime-time game next season. But competitively, it seems a wise move to not play Sunday night. ”This is a long-term partnership,” said NBC spokesman Greg Hughes, ”and this was the best decision for the parties concerned here: the NFL the fans and us.” — NUMB TO NUMBERS? Demaryius Thomas isn’t really into numbers, but he knows he’s 108 yards shy of reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the sixth straight season. ”Everybody telling me” is how he keeps track, he said. ”Last week I knew it was 160 because I found out in the meeting. Of course I’m going to remember. I was never a number guy, but hey, that’s a cool thing to know.” Thomas said he’d cherish the accomplishment, especially considering the Broncos this season have cycled through three quarterbacks:- Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch Royce Freeman Jersey , who gets his second start Sunday against Kansas City. ”Being able to come out and do that with three different quarterbacks … it says a lot,” Thomas figured. Thomas turned 30 last week, but that’s one number he isn’t worried about. ”Not at all. I don’t even know how old I am,” Thomas said. ”I feel like I’m 20-something. I’m young. I still got the juice, baby. Can’t act like it didn’t happen, but as long as you got the juice, 30 is the new 20 and 50 is the new 30.” — QB RUNS: Carolina’s Cam Newton and Seattle’s Russell Wilson have a chance to join the rare fraternity of quarterbacks to lead their team in rushing for a season. Newton is barely ahead of teammate Jonathan Stewart headed into the season finale, while there is no question that Wilson will end up leading the Seahawks in yards rushing. Newton has 695 yards this season to Stewart’s 680. Wilson has 550 yards rushing, which is 300 yards more than any of Seattle’s stable of running backs, a group that has done very little all season. Chris Carson, who hasn’t played since Week 4, still has the most yards rushing by a Seattle running back with 208. Newton has done this before, leading the Panthers in rushing in 2012. Others QBs who have led their team in rushing include Donovan McNabb with Philadelphia in 2000, and Randall Cunningham for the Eagles in three straight seasons (1988-90). — TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATIONS: Jay Cutler has lived in a hotel near the Miami Dolphins’ complex for the past five months, while his wife and children remained back home in Nashville. It’s a small price to pay for coming out of retirement to sign a $10 million, one-year deal as an emergency replacement for an injured Ryan Tannehill. Cutler’s contract made the long-term hotel stay affordable. ”It was cool at first,” he said. ”Maid service every day, that’s kind of nice. You get the on-demand movies, but they don’t change as often as you would like. It’s kind of a monthly thing. So after you watch them all in a month, you’ve got to wait a little while. ”But it was fine. I wasn’t there that much.” Cutler will start Sunday’s season finale against Buffalo, and it might be his career finale. At any rate, he’ll be ready to check out of the hotel. ”I did get the points,” he said. ”That’ll pay off somewhere down the line, right?” — THE LATER THE BETTER: Dan Quinn wants Falcons fans to party like it’s 2018 at Sunday’s game against Carolina. Quinn celebrated the league’s decision to push the kickoff back from 1 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. because that will give fans more time to get fired up for the game. Quinn says the game atmosphere is better for later starts, and he says that’s a trend he noticed in the Georgia Dome as well as the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He used the team’s 20-17 win over the Saints on Dec. 7, a Thursday night game, as an example. ”The later the better John Elway Jersey ,” Quinn said. ”It gives our crowd a little more time to get warmed-up. The fact that it’s at 4:25, to me I think it’s awesome. You really felt their energy in the stadium a couple Thursdays ago when we played, so we’re calling on them again.” Added Quinn: ”We’re making an official declaration New Year’s starts at 4:25.” — WHO’S GOT TICKETS?: Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone is getting hounded for tickets – to a road game. And by people who don’t necessarily want to root for the AFC South champion Jaguars (10-5), who play at Tennessee (8-7) on Sunday. ”This game is a little bit different for me more so because of the family stuff,” said Marrone, whose wife, Helen, is a daughter of longtime Middle Tennessee State coach and College Football Hall of Famer Boots Donnelly. ”We are getting calls, `Can we get some tickets to watch Tennessee kick your (butt)?’ From people I know. I hear it.” Marrone and his wife still own a farm in Nashville. But most of their family members are Titans fans. ”It gives me an excuse to not have to go to a lot of family functions,” Marrone said. ”I am not the best family function guy. I am kind of in the corner. Now it is easy. Now it is like, `No, they went to the game and they rooted for the Titans. I am not going to this function.’ There are a couple that are obviously rooting for us, because there are a couple that actually like me.” — AP Pro Football Writers Barry Wilner, Josh Dubow and Arnie Stapleton, and Sports Writers Steven Wine, Charles Odum, Mark Long and Tim Booth contributed. — Pro Football Focus ranks the unit at No. 12 - a huge improvement over its final ranking of 2018." Denver Broncos NewsHow much can this Broncos’ O-line improve in 2019? New,50commentsPro Football Focus ranks the unit at No. 12 - a huge improvement over its final ranking of 2018.MDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:How much can this Broncos’ O-line improve in 2019? TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmaildenverbroncos.comGood morning, Broncos Country!Pro Football Focus is at it again, but this time its rankings are favorable to the Broncos, so I’m not going to complain - but I will question ;)PFF ranks the Broncos’ offensive line at No. 12 in the NFL, projecting the following starting lineup:Arguably the best thing this offensive line has going for it - besides bringing in Hall-of-Famer Mike Munchak as its position coach - is the two newest players.With the free agency addition of James and the draft pick of Risner, the line will not only be significantly better than last season but also some of the more formidable players for defenders to get around/through this season.PFF called the James’ acquisition a “strong move,” less for any stellar play but specifically for his consistently good play - something highly coveted in the NFL. But it’s the second-round draft pick of Risner that really has this o-line improving over 2018. The former Kansas State guard - and also Wiggins, Colorado, native - held an 87 overall PFF college grade throughout his four years and even hit above 90 in overall and pass-blocking grades during his senior year. That’s why PFF called him the “most intriguing” offensive line change for the Broncos.The biggest hopes will come as former first-round pick Bolles will be expected to make a big jump at left tackle that he has two years under his belt, and Leary will hopefully be able to remain healthy enough throughout the season to keep his guard spot from becoming a turnstile again.But the biggest question mark will undoubtedly be McGovern as coaches and fans will be hoping he has made a gigantic leap in experience and performance over last season’s emergency fill-in at center when Matt Paradis went down with a season-ending injury.Losing Paradis to free agency was one of John Elway’s few mistakes this offseason Womens Joe Flacco Jersey , in my opinion, but I’m hoping McGovern has gotten the necessary chops to make a big jump in his play this season, which will go a long way in predicting how good this offensive line will be.With seven games under his belt and top-notch coaching from Munchak - plus a horrific PFF grade out of the way - McGovern should be able to improve significantly on his sub-39 pass-blocking grade for 2018.Whether this line is a top 12 unit in the NFL is anyone’s guess at this point (c’mon PFF, we know you don’t really have any idea!) but given that it finished 24th overall by PFF’s ranking following Week 17 last season due to a very inexperienced McGovern at center, a mishmash of Elijah Wilkinson and Max Garcia to cover for Leary plus Billy Turner in for Jared Veldheer - it does not seem farfetched that the Broncos’ ranking moves up significantly in 2019. Even if the Broncos have to dip into the reserves with Wilkinson, Chaz Green and Don Barclay, overall the group should be more experienced and with slightly better talent than recent seasons could offer.And in case you’re wondering how the Broncos’ AFC West rivals fare in the rankings, the talent-rich Chargers are likely to suffer behind an offensive line anchored by Russell Okung and Michael Schofield for a 29th overall ranking while the Raiders aren’t much better with a predicted 26th overall ranking. All good news for the Broncos.The Chiefs boast the best line in the division after the Broncos, with a 17th-ranked o-line behind possibly the league’s best right tackle in Michael Schwartz and solid left tackle Eric Fisher.But between you and me, if the Broncos’ line just protects quarterback Joe Flacco long enough to get a decent pass downfield, all of it will be a thrilling improvement.Horse TracksNFL offensive line rankings: All 32 teams’ units entering 2019 | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | Pro Football FocusPFF’s senior analysts unveil PFF’s 32-team NFL offensive line rankings for the 2019 NFL season.10 Burning Questions for Camp: Who provides cornerback depth?Isaac Yiadom and De’Vante Bausby are two key names in a competition to determine who will be the No. 4 cornerback -- a role that could prove crucial at some point in the season.Broncos announce fan information for free training camp stadium session on Saturday, July 27Season-ticket holders will have early access to tickets at 10 a.m. on Thursday, and the general public will be able to download their free tickets on Friday at 10 a.m.10 Burning Questions for Camp: Who will be the top backups on the offensive line?Seven-year veteran Don Barclay has starting experience at right tackle, right guard and left tackle. Fifth-year veteran Chaz Green started at left guard and left tackle in Dallas in 2016 and started at left guard for the Raiders in Week 15 of last year.Paul Klee: Broncos need sophomores — Chubb, Sutton, Lindsay and others — to grow up fast in 2019 | Sports Coverage | gazette.comThe focus in Broncos training camp will be new quarterback Joe Flacco and coach Vic Fangio. But it's the sophomore class led by Bradley Chubb, Courtland Sutton and Phillip Lindsay3 ways the Denver Broncos can surprise the NFL as underdogs in 2019The Denver Broncos certainly don't deserve to be the top team on anyone's power rankings, but two losing seasons in a row has put them under the radar.Denver Broncos: How much will Phillip Lindsay’s role change in 2019?There has been chatter about the role Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay will play in 2019. What changes can we expect?Free tickets for Broncos' training camp session at Mile High available later this weekTickets for the Denver Broncos’ free July 27 training camp practice at Broncos Stadium at Mile High will become available Thursday for season ticket holders and Friday for the general public.Veteran CB Chris Harris wants to be a Bronco 'for life' - NFL.comDenver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris is entering his ninth season in the NFL. , Harris is hopeful the Broncos will lock him up to a long-term deal.Broncos CB Chris Harris: 'I like being the underdog' - NFL.comBroncos CB Chris Harris said on "Good Morning Football"on Wednesday that teams are sleeping on Denver, but the corner likes being the underdog in the talent-loaded AFC West.Broncos training camp preview: CornerbacksHow is the Broncos' cornerback depth chart shaping up heading into training camp?Denver Broncos: How much will Phillip Lindsay’s role change in 2019?There has been chatter about the role Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay will play in 2019. What changes can we expect?Free tickets for Broncos' training camp session at Mile High available later this weekTickets for the Denver Broncos’ free July 27 training camp practice at Broncos Stadium at Mile High will become available Thursday for season ticket holders and Friday for the general public.Even with additions of Munchak, James and Risner, Bolles is key to improved o-line | 9news.comGarett Bolles has started all 32 games at left tackle since he was Broncos' first-round draft pick in 2017.Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wins ESPY award for “Best NFL Player” - Arrowhead PrideIt sucks that we have to admit this is true.2019 NFL triplets rankings: Saints, Chargers, Browns top the list - NFL.comBroncos at 29. Pffft. Whatevs.