The Broncos still control their playoff destiny after a deflating loss.

However, their path to clinching a spot goes through two more elite quarterbacks in Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes. A victory over the Bengals on Saturday or the Chiefs in Week 18 sends the Broncos to their first NFL postseason since 2015.

How likely is that outcome?

Denver’s playoff odds, per NFL.com, dropped from 91% before the Chargers defeat to 76% entering Week 17. The Broncos (9-6) also received zero help Sunday from their AFC playoff-hopeful counterparts.

—The Dolphins (7-8) beat the 49ers, 29-17

—The Bengals (7-8) topped the Browns, 24-6

—The Colts (7-8) escaped the Titans, 38-30

All three teams and Denver remain in contention for the No. 7 playoff seed. The Chargers (9-6) own a tiebreaker over Denver after they swept the Broncos this season. Los Angeles also closes the regular season against AFC bottom dwellers New England and Las Vegas.

“Each week we play there’s always pressure. I guarantee you none of our players said there’s going to be more pressure,” coach Sean Payton said on his Monday teleconference call with local media. “There’s going to be a sense of urgency always. There’s a lot of different scenarios. I think the focal point always is on the game you’re playing. That’s the one thing that you can control. I look forward to having a good week. … There will be a number of things you learn from this game — and then you move on.”

Now, the surest Broncos path to clinching is a Week 17 road victory over the Bengals.

But Cincinnati is currently a 3-point betting favorite (per FanDuel).

The Bengals enter with three straight victories. Quarterback Joe Burrow set an NFL record last week with seven consecutive games throwing for at least 250 yards and three touchdowns. That breaks a 2007 mark set by ex-Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during their historic 16-0 undefeated regular season.

Meanwhile, the Broncos have allowed 30-plus points twice over their last three outings. Their offense has still not produced a 100-yard rusher in a game. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has masked some of those issues with multiple touchdown passes in four of his last five starts. Their opportunistic defense has also registered 12 turnovers over that span.

But the margin for error keeps shrinking with playoff football on the horizon.

“The good thing is my role is going to be pretty simple because everybody in that locker room wants to already play next week,” Nix told reporters on Thursday at SoFi Stadium after the Chargers loss. “I think at this point, we’re all competitively frustrated and I think we’re excited for this opportunity.”