ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --In the next two weeks, the Broncos could still get the AFC's top seed -- or they could become just the third 11-5 team in league history to miss the postseason.

Both are among the possibilities as they head into the last fortnight of the regular season. The Broncos would prefer not to think about the latter, even though longtime fans and some team officials and coaches remember how, in 1985, the 11-5 Broncos missed the postseason, making them one of just two teams (the 2008 Patriots are the other) of the 90 clubs all-time to miss the playoffs with an 11-5 record.

Nevertheless, the Broncos' hopes remain in their hands. Win out, and they'll have a first-round bye. They can't clinch that on Monday, but they can get into the playoffs with some help:

DENVER BRONCOS

... can clinch the AFC West with:
1) DEN win AND KC loss or tie
OR
2) DEN tie AND KC loss

... can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) DEN win AND NYJ loss or tie
OR
2) DEN win AND PIT loss or tie
OR
3) DEN tie AND NYJ loss
OR
4) DEN tie AND PIT loss

This is the exact same scenario the Broncos had the previous two weeks, although last week, they were technically in control of their playoff outcome because they would have provided Pittsburgh the loss they needed to clinch a playoff spot, but after blowing a 17-point lead, that notion went out the window.

If the Broncos lose once more, they need a loss by the Jets, Steelers or Chiefs just to qualify for the playoffs.

And in the convoluted world of playoff scenarios, it is possible that the Chiefs could clinch a playoff spot before the Broncos do -- even though they would still have a worse record. A Kansas City win over Cleveland and a Jets loss to New England would put the Chiefs in the playoffs at 10-5 on Sunday, while the Broncos, a half-game better, could not seal a postseason spot until the following night.

Here are the other potential clinching scenarios for this week:

AFC

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

... have clinched the AFC East ...

... have clinched a first-round bye ...

... can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) NE win
OR
2) NE tie AND CIN loss or tie

CINCINNATI BENGALS

... can clinch the AFC North with:
1) CIN win or tie
OR
2) PIT loss or tie

... can clinch a first-round bye with:
1) CIN win or tie

HOUSTON TEXANS

... can clinch the AFC South with:
1) HOU win AND HOU clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over IND
OR
2) HOU win AND IND loss or tie
OR
3) HOU tie AND IND loss

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

... can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) KC win AND NYJ loss OR
2) KC win AND PIT loss

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

... can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) PIT win AND NYJ loss

NFC

CAROLINA PANTHERS

... have clinched the NFC South ...

... have clinched a first-round bye ...

... can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1) CAR win or tie
OR
2) AZ loss or tie​

ARIZONA CARDINALS

... have clinched the NFC West ...

... can clinch a first-round bye with:
1) AZ win or tie

GREEN BAY PACKERS

... have clinched a playoff spot ...

... can clinch the NFC North with:
1) GB win AND MIN loss or tie
OR
2) GB tie AND MIN loss

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

... can clinch a playoff spot with:
1) MIN win or tie
OR
2) ATL loss or tie
OR
3) SEA win or tie

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

... can clinch the NFC North with:
1) WAS win
OR
2) WAS tie AND NYG loss

**

PLAYOFF SEEDING HEADING INTO WEEK 16:**
(Tiebreakers, if applicable, are in parentheses)

AFC

1. New England, 12-2-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.500

2. Cincinnati, 11-3-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.500

3. Denver, 10-4-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.536

4. Houston, 7-7-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.286

5. Kansas City, 9-5-0 (conference record over NYJ and PIT)
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.321

6. N.Y. Jets, 9-5-0 (conference record over PIT)
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.643

STILL IN THE HUNT:

7. Pittsburgh, 9-5-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.250

10. Indianapolis, 6-8-0
    Remaining opponent winning percentage:.286

11. Jacksonville, 5-9-0
    Remaining opponent winning percentage:.429

ELIMINATED:

8. Oakland, 6-8-0
   9. Buffalo, 6-8-0
   10. Miami, 5-9-0
   11. Baltimore, 4-10-0
   12. San Diego, 4-10-0
   13. Cleveland, 3-11-0
   14. Tennessee, 3-11-0

NFC

1. Carolina, 14-0-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.464

2. Arizona, 12-2-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.679

3. Green Bay, 10-4-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.750

4. Washington, 7-7-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.357

5. Seattle, 9-5-0 (head-to-head over MIN)
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.643

6. Minnesota, 9-5-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.571

STILL IN THE HUNT:

7. Atlanta, 7-7-0
   Remaining opponent winning percentage:.679

10. Philadelphia, 6-8-0 (head-to-head over NYG)
    Remaining opponent winning percentage:.464

11. N.Y. Giants, 6-8-0 (conference record over CHI)
    Remaining opponent winning percentage:.536

ELIMINATED:

8. St. Louis, 6-8-0
   9. Tampa Bay, 6-8-0
   10. Detroit, 5-9-0
   11. New Orleans, 5-9-0
   12. Chicago, 5-9-0
   13. San Francisco, 4-10-0
   14. Dallas, 4-10-0