Can the Denver Broncos still make the playoffs? Where Sean Payton and co. stand before Week 17 clash vs. Seahawks

Denver Broncos fans have had to put up with eight seasons without a postseason appearance. The team's last postseason trip came in the 2015 season, when they won Super Bowl 50 in Peyton Manning's final season in the league.

Thursday's 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers cost the Broncos the opportunity to end their postseason skid last week. In that game, Denver had taken an 11-point lead early in the second half, but the Chargers rallied with three late touchdowns to win.

Despite failing to earn a postseason slot in Week 16, the Broncos still have a chance to qualify for the playoffs in their last two games.

Broncos' playoff scenarios after going 9-6

Even though the Denver Broncos lost to the Los Angeles Chargers, they still have Week 17 to secure a position in the 2024 NFL playoffs.

In fact, if three games had gone the Broncos' way on Sunday, they still would have secured a postseason wild-card berth. However, that wasn't the case because the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts all won in Week 16.

Now, in order to guarantee a postseason spot, the Broncos (9-6) must win one of their next two games. This weekend's Saturday afternoon special will feature a road matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Denver would practically guarantee a playoff ticket with a win over Cincinnati (7-8), bringing its record to 10-6. This is because none of the Dolphins, Bengals or Colts can achieve 10 wins this season anymore.

The Broncos' situation will get more complicated if they lose to the Bengals. They will still have control over their fate, though, as they could do so by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), who have been guaranteed the top seed in the AFC, in their last regular season game.

Denver Broncos' playoff scenario explored

Sportskeeda's NFL Playoff Predictor projects that the Denver Broncos will still do enough to make the playoffs. The tool projects that the team will win one of its last two games to finish with a 10-7 record. According to this prediction, they would finish as the seventh seed in the AFC and take the last wild-card spot in the conference.

Sportkeeda's Playoff Predictor

The predictor tool further projects that Bo Nix and his teammates will face the No. 2-seeded Buffalo Bills in their first playoff game in nine years.

Given the current AFC wild-card situation, the Broncos will essentially guarantee a playoff berth if they win at least one of their final two games.