Broncos Still in the Driver’s Seat Despite Week 16 Setback: Here’s What Needs to Happen in Week 17
Week 16 didn’t go the way the Denver Broncos had hoped. Not only did they take a tough loss at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars-a physical, 60-minute beatdown-but nearly every other team in the AFC playoff race picked up wins. The Bills, Patriots, Jaguars, and Chargers all came out on top, tightening the race and putting pressure on Denver heading into the final two weeks.
But here’s the good news for Broncos fans: Denver’s early-season success gave them just enough cushion to absorb this stumble. The loss stings, no doubt, but it doesn’t derail their postseason hopes.
In fact, they’re still very much in control of their own destiny. A few things need to fall into place, but the path to both the AFC West title and the No. 1 overall seed is still open-and it starts in Week 17.
Broncos’ Week 17 Playoff Picture: What Needs to Happen
Let’s break down what Denver needs this week to lock in a playoff berth-and potentially much more.
To Clinch the AFC West Title:
The Broncos can wrap up the division in Week 17 with one of the following scenarios:
- Denver win + Chargers loss or tie
- Denver tie + Chargers loss
That’s the simplest path. Beat the Chiefs on Thursday night and hope the Texans take care of business against the Chargers. If that happens, Denver punches its ticket as AFC West champs.
To Clinch the No. 1 Seed in the AFC:
Now, this one’s a little trickier. Denver needs a perfect storm of outcomes:
- Denver win
- Chargers loss or tie
- Patriots loss
- Bills loss or tie
- Jaguars loss or tie
It’s a lot to ask for in one weekend, but it’s not entirely out of reach. The Broncos just need to handle their own business first.
Week 17 Matchups to Watch
Here’s who the key teams are facing this week:
- Broncos @ Chiefs
- **Chargers vs.
Texans**
- Patriots @ Jets
- Bills vs. Eagles
- Jaguars @ Colts
Let’s unpack what to look for.
Broncos at Chiefs is the headliner for obvious reasons. Denver has to bounce back quickly and find a way to beat a Kansas City team that’s still dangerous, even if they’ve been inconsistent this season. Win here, and the rest of the dominoes can start to fall.
Chargers vs. Texans is the most pivotal non-Broncos game of the week.
Houston already proved they can beat LA-in fact, they knocked the Chargers out of the playoffs in the Wild Card round not long ago. If they can do it again, Denver’s path to the division crown becomes a whole lot clearer.
Patriots at Jets is another one to circle. New England is fighting for its own playoff life, but the Jets have been a thorn in the side of several contenders this year. A Jets win helps Denver’s No. 1 seed hopes.
Bills vs. Eagles could be a slugfest.
Buffalo is hot, but the Eagles are no pushover. If Philly can slow down Josh Allen and company, that’s another box checked for Denver.
Jaguars at Colts wraps up the list. Jacksonville just handed Denver that tough loss, but now they’ve got to face a Colts team that’s been surprisingly resilient-even with Philip Rivers stepping in under center. A tie or loss from Jacksonville helps Denver tremendously.
Why the Broncos Are Still in the Best Position
Despite the Week 16 loss, Denver still holds the edge over the Chargers, Bills, and Jaguars in the standings. They also have the tiebreaker over the Patriots, which could be crucial if things tighten up in Week 18. That early-season run is paying dividends now.
In short, the Broncos control their fate. Win out, and they’re not just in-they’re potentially hosting the AFC playoffs. That’s the kind of leverage every team wants heading into the final stretch.
Bottom Line
Week 16 was rough, no doubt. But the sky isn’t falling in Denver. The Broncos are still in a strong position, and Week 17 gives them a chance to reclaim momentum and lock up the division.
Handle business in Kansas City, hope for a little help from Houston and a few other teams, and the Broncos could be sitting pretty as AFC West champs-or even the top seed in the conference-by the end of the weekend.
It’s all still in play. Now it’s up to Denver to make it happen.