NFL Playoff Picture: Denver Broncos get absolutely no help in Week 16

The Denver Broncos are still holding onto the No. 7 spot in the AFC playoffs, but their grip on it got a lot looser this week. 

That started with a tough loss at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night which put the Los Angeles Chargers into the No. 6 spot and the Broncos as the last team in. Going into Sunday, the Broncos still could have clinched their first playoff spot since 2015 if the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins all lost. 

Week 16 scores

Bengals 24, Browns 6
Colts 38, Titans 30
Dolphins 29, 49ers 17

Even if the Broncos didn't get the unlikely scenario of all of those teams losing, it would have been nice if at least one of them did because that would have officially eliminated that team and there would be one less team chasing them. Instead, all three of those teams are hot on their heels. 

As fate would have it, the Broncos face one of those teams in Week 17 in a game that will be played next Saturday. 

Broncos travel to Cincinnati for massive Week 17 game

As the old saying goes, if you want something done, you have to do it yourself. The Broncos are going to need to stop relying on other teams to take care of business for them, essentially backing into the playoffs, and just get it done on their own. 

The Broncos will face a Bengals team that is much better than its 7-8 record would indicate, but if the Broncos can win this game, they will clinch a playoff berth on their own and end the Bengals' season at the same time. 

However, if the Broncos lose this game, things are going to get quite interesting and the team's playoff chances, which currently stand at 76 percent, would probably be no better than a coin flip.