After surviving a 41-32 shootout win over the Browns on Monday, the Broncos enter their bye week with an 8-5 record.
More importantly, Denver is sitting firmly in the No. 7 spot in the AFC. If the season ended today, they would be going to the playoffs for the first time since the Peyton Manning era.
Here’s a look at the current playoff picture entering NFL Week 14, as well as scenarios for Denver to clinch a postseason berth:
NFC playoff picture
Detroit Lions (11-1)
Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
Green Bay Packers (9-3)
Washington Commanders (8-5)
In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6), Arizona Cardinals (6-6), Los Angeles Rams (6-6), San Francisco 49ers (5-7), Dallas Cowboys (5-7), New Orleans Saints (4-8), Carolina Panthers (3-9).
Not mathematically eliminated yet: Chicago Bears (4-8).
Done for the year: New York Giants (2-10).
AFC playoff picture
Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) — clinched playoff berth
Buffalo Bills (10-2) — clinched playoff berth
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
Houston Texans (8-5)
Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
Denver Broncos (8-5)
In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Miami Dolphins (5-7), Cincinnati Bengals (4-8).
Not mathematically eliminated: Cleveland Browns (3-9), New York Jets (3-9), Tennessee Titans (3-9).
Done for the year: New England Patriots (3-10), Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10), Las Vegas Raiders (2-10).
How the Broncos can clinch a playoff spot
Win the division
The Broncos are sitting in the No. 3 spot in the AFC West behind the Chiefs and the Chargers. In order to do this, there are a few narrow paths.
Broncos finish 12-5 or 11-5-1 and the Chiefs and the Chargers finish with worse win-loss-tie percentages.
Broncos and Chiefs finish with the same record percentagewise and Denver edges them on a tiebreaker.
Broncos, Chiefs and Chargers finish with the same record percentagewise and Denver edges them on a tiebreaker.
Clinch a wild-card spot
This is the much-easier path for the Broncos than winning the division. They hold a two-game lead over the Colts and a two-and-a-half-game lead over the Dolphins for the No. 7 spot. If Denver wins three of its final four games (or two wins and a tie), postseason football returns to the Mile High City for the first time in nine years.
Denver’s remaining opponents
Week 15: Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Sunday, Dec. 15, 2:25 p.m.
Both teams will be fresh off their bye weeks. If Denver wins, it eliminates the Colts from playoff contention.
Week 16: At Los Angeles Chargers (8-4), Thursday, Dec. 19, 6:15 p.m.
Denver will play its second Thursday night game of the season. This division rivalry game carries with it possible playoff seeding implications.
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Week 17: At Cincinnati Bengals (4-8), Dec. 28 or 29, TBD
While just about eliminated from playoff contention, don’t overlook the Bengals. They’re fifth in the NFL in scoring at 27.9 points a game. Their problem? Cincinnati is allowing 28.3 points, second worst in the league.
Week 18: Kansas City Chiefs (11-1), Sunday, Jan. 5, TBD
The Broncos beat the Chiefs last year in Denver, giving them their first victory over Kansas City since 2015. Denver nearly did it again earlier this year if not for a last-second blocked field goal.
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