Mile High Huddle

NFL Announces Playoff-Clinching Scenarios for Broncos

Win and they're in.

Zack Kelberman

Dec 15, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) following the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Dec 15, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) following the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
In this story:

The NFL on Tuesday unveiled the Denver Broncos' playoff-clinching scenarios entering Week 16, of which there are multiple.

The Broncos can punch their first trip to the postseason since 2015 with a victory or tie against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football. That's the simplest path — win and in.

Alternatively, they'd secure a spot with a Miami Dolphins loss or tie, Cincinnati Bengals loss or tie, and Indianapolis Colts loss or tie.

What happens next on the Broncos beat? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

The 9-5 Broncos — winners of four straight — are fresh off a comeback victory over the Colts which cemented the club's first winning season since 2016. They currently hold the AFC's sixth seed and would face the three-seed Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.

Denver wraps up the 2024 campaign with road tilts at Los Angeles and Cincinnati before a home date with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. Their magic number is one.

“It’s a great opportunity that is ahead of us," wide receiver Courtland Sutton said Sunday. "(We) haven’t been able to sniff it (playoffs) and to be in a position to know that we if we finish strong, we can improve our seeding in the playoffs is an amazing feeling. We have a nice little stretch coming up, some really good games coming up. We have to take care of business; keeping everybody focused and locked in. Yes, that was a big game. It gave us a better chance (to make the playoffs and improve seeding), but these games ahead of us give us an even better chance of better seeding and putting ourselves in a better situation moving forward.”

Follow Denver Broncos On SI/Mile High Huddle on X and Facebook and subscribe on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!

Published |Modified
Zack Kelberman
ZACK KELBERMAN

Zack Kelberman is the Senior Editor for Mile High Huddle. He has covered the NFL for more than a decade and the Denver Broncos since 2016. He's also the co-host of the wildly popular Broncos show the Mile High Huddle Podcast.

Home/News