Mims' first score of the night came with just under nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, as quarterback Bo Nix fired a 51-yard pass to the back of the end zone. The touchdown and ensuing extra point allowed Denver to tie the game before quarterback Joe Burrow responded with a rushing touchdown with 1:31 remaining.

But a loss opens the door for the two other AFC teams in the hunt, the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins. If both of those teams win in Week 18 and the Chiefs beat the Broncos, the Dolphins will be the No. 7 seed in the AFC. Denver is 9-7. The Dolphins and Bengals are 8-8.

The Denver Broncos have twice had an opportunity to end their eight-year playoff drought. And twice they’ve come away losers. Now, with just one week left in the regular season, they will get one more shot to punch their ticket to the postseason with the Kansas City Chiefs coming to town.

The Broncos can’t clinch a playoff spot today, but wins for the Giants and Browns would give Denver a simpler path in Week 18.

The NFL schedule has reached Week 17 and several teams have already secured their playoff spots. In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers are all postseason bound.