NFL playoff picture: How the Broncos can clinch the AFC West in Week 16

Sunday update: The Broncos could not clinch the AFC West in Week 16, and in fact, they’ve opened the door for the Chargers. LA beat Dallas on Sunday in the 1 p.m. window and that foreclosed any Week 16 clinching scenarios for the Broncos. However, the Broncos then lost to the Jaguars 34-20 in the 4 p.m. window and that moves the Chargers to only one game back with two games remaining.

LA and Denver face off in Week 18, so this one could come down to the wire if the Chargers win or Broncos lose next week. In Week 17, the Broncos travel to face the Chiefs and the Chargers host the Texans. Denver will be able clinch the division with a win and a Chargers loss.

The Denver Broncos became the first AFC team to clinch a playoff spot with their win over the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.

But the Broncos can clinch something even bigger on Sunday.

Not only can Denver clinch their first AFC West title 2015 (breaking a run of nine consecutive division titles by the Kansas City Chiefs) but the Broncos can also clinch the top spot in the AFC, the the lone bye week in the NFL Playoffs.

Here are the playoff clinching scenarios for the Broncos this weekend.

Last week Denver secured a playoff spot with their win over the Packers, but they could not clinch the division as the Los Angeles Chargers kept their own AFC West title hopes alive with a win over the Chiefs.

But with three weeks remaining, Denver has a two-game lead over the Chargers in the division. That means that Denver has a path to wrapping up an AFC West title this weekend. With a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a Chargers loss or tie against the Dallas Cowboys, the Broncos are AFC West champions.

Denver can also clinch the division with a tie against Jacksonville, provided the Chargers lose to the Cowboys.

Not only can Denver clinch the division this weekend, they can also clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and the lone bye week in the conference. That would mean the road to Super Bowl LX on the AFC side of the NFL Playoffs would run through Empower Field at Mile High Stadium.

But Denver would need a lot of help to secure the No. 1 seed this week.

First, the Broncos would need to beat the Jaguars in one of the week’s most fascinating matchups. Then the Broncos would need the Chargers to lose or tie against the Cowboys, the New England Patriots to lose to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football, and the Buffalo Bills to lose or tie against the Cleveland Browns.

If all those results transpire, the Broncos are the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Here are the full AFC standings heading into Week 16:

x - Team has clinched a playoff spot
e - Team has been eliminated from playoff contention

Here is the state of play in the AFC West as Week 16 begins: