Can Broncos clinch AFC West in Week 15? How Denver can punch postseason ticket

Mike Moraitis

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Can Broncos clinch AFC West in Week 15? How Denver can punch postseason ticket image

The Denver Broncos are in position to punch their ticket to the postseason ahead of the Week 15 game against the Green Bay Packers.

Denver enters the week in first place in the AFC West and in the No. 1 spot in the conference playoff picture.

If Denver can lock up the top seed, the team would get home-field advantage until the Super Bowl.

But can the Broncos wrap up the division this week? Here's what we know.

Can Broncos clinch AFC West in Week 15?

No, the Broncos can't secure the division this week.

Even if the Broncos win and the Chargers lose, Los Angeles still has a chance to win the division with three games left thanks to owning the head-to-head tie-breaker for now. The two teams meet again in Week 18.

If the Broncos win and the Chargers lose this week, Denver will be in position to clinch the division with just a win in Week 16.

If the opposite happens in Week 15, the Chargers could take over first place for the time being with a win and a Broncos loss in Week 16.

How Broncos can clinch playoff berth

While Denver can't win the division this week, the Broncos have six ways to clinch a postseason berth in Week 16.

Here's how, per NFL.com:

  • DEN win OR
  • DEN tie + LAC loss OR
  • DEN tie + JAX loss OR
  • DEN tie + HOU loss or tie OR
  • DEN tie + IND loss or tie OR
  • HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie as long as both games don't end in a tie 

So, the Broncos can actually punch their postseason ticket, even if they lose, but it would take a combination of a tie and a loss from the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts and we know ties are rare.

We also know the other four scenarios are unlikely to happen, as they would involve Denver finishing with a tie.

All that said, the cleanest and easiest way for the Broncos to clinch a playoff berth is with a win over the Packers on Sunday.

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