Denver Broncos Week 16 Playoffs Scenarios

Quarterbacks Tim Tebow #15 and Brady Quinn #9 of the Denver Broncos take the field during warm ups before playing the New England Patriots at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos‘ double-digit loss to the New England Patriots could have been a lot worse — the Oakland Raiders could have won.

But the Raiders didn’t, and while the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers kept hope alive with impressive wins this weekend, they would need a lot of help to make the playoffs. The Broncos still control their own destiny.

In fact, Denver can clinch the division this week. A win in Buffalo and a Raiders loss would seal the division for Denver. Oakland plays Kansas City this week — get your Chiefs hats on, everybody.

Ways the Broncos can win the AFC West

(Excerpted from ESPN’s AFC West Blog)

1) Denver beats Kansas City in Week 17

OR

2) Denver beats Buffalo in Week 16 AND Oakland loses 1 of last 2 games

OR

3) Oakland beats Kansas City in Week 16 AND San Diego loses to Detroit in Week 16 AND San Diego beats Oakland in Week 17

Of course, winning both games would seal the division anyway. We’ve seen the Chargers rally late and win the division in miraculous fashion before — let’s not allow history to repeat itself.