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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jon Heath

Meant to be? Broncos can clinch playoffs on same date as 2015

The stars might be aligning for the Denver Broncos to clinch their first playoff berth since the 2015 season.

When the Broncos face the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, it will be exactly nine years to the day (Dec. 28) since Denver last clinched a playoff spot. The Broncos improved to 11-4 and clinched a playoff berth with a 20-17 victory over Cincinnati on Dec. 28, 2015.

With a win or tie on Saturday, Denver would clinch a postseason spot on Dec. 28, 2024. As several fans and pundits have noted on social media, the similarities don’t end there.

Nine years ago, the Broncos were coming off a 34-27 loss on the road, and it was the penultimate game of the regular season.

This year, Denver is coming off a 34-27 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers (and the Bengals’ most recent loss was also a 34-27 defeat to the Chargers). Look, we’re not superstitious, but we are a little stitious.

Saturday’s game will be televised on NFL Network. Denver is considered an underdog playing on the road this week. With two games remaining, the Broncos need one win (or tie) to clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs.

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