Denver Broncos to Watch vs. Cincinnati

Dec 14, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The chance is still there for homefield advantage.

The Denver Broncos scratched off the first of their season goals when they won the AFC West for the fourth-consecutive season.

The next goal is at least a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. With a win in one of the last two games, the Broncos get that even if they lose to the Cincinnati Bengals.

If Denver wins the last two games and the New England Patriots lose one game, the Broncos get homefield advantage and the road to the Super Bowl would go through the Mile High City for the third-straight year.

But the only way that happens is if Denver (11-3) beats the Bengals (9-4-1) on Monday Night Football.

Of course, with the history the Broncos have with a 13-3 record, perhaps they should lose one of these two games. There was the 1996 playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 2013 playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens and the most recent Super Bowl.

What happens over the next two days in the NFL will show what Denver’s run through the playoffs will entail.

With quarterback Peyton Manning channeling his inner Bill Belichick, the Broncos are onto Cincinnati.

Here are the five Denver players to watch in the Queen City against Andy Dalton and the Bengals.