The Denver Broncos have kicked off against the Cincinnati Bengals with an opportunity to secure a spot in the playoffs.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, the Bengals are fighting for their playoff lives as well.

Here are the playoff scenarios for the Broncos at the start of today.

Denver Broncos playoff scenarios with a win

For the Broncos, it’s simple. Win, and you’re in.

To make things a little simpler, they simply need one win in their final two games. Beat the Bengals today? Next week doesn’t matter.

More: NFL playoff picture Week 17: Chargers clinch berth with rout of Patriots; one spot left in AFC

What happens if the Broncos lose?

If the Broncos lose, they aren’t out of it yet. In that scenario, the Broncos would need to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18 of the season.

An added wrinkle to keep an eye out for in that game is that the Chiefs have already wrapped up the number one seed in the AFC. They may end up sitting some or all of their key starters for part or all of the game.

Additional information

• Broncos record: 9-6
• Bengals record: 7-8
• Channel: NFL Network
• Kickoff time: 2:30 p.m. MST

Rounds of snow will move into Colorado’s mountains this weekend.

If you’re traveling into the High Country, the bests time to travel will be early Saturday through midday, before the next round of snow moves in. Then again on Sunday afternoon, ahead of more snow on Monday.

It’ll be a cool and mostly cloudy start to the day in the Denver metro area. The winds will kick up in the foothills and the west side of I-25. Temperatures will warm into the low and mid 50s along the urban corridor.

Mountain snow showers will return Saturday night into Sunday morning, as Winter Weather Advisories and Warnings continue for the northern and central mountains.

We’ll have another lull midday Sunday with partly cloudy skies statewide. It’ll be a bit warmer in the Denver metro, with highs close to 60-degrees by the afternoon.

More mountain snow is expected Sunday night into Monday in the mountains with a slight chance of brief rain or snow showers in the metro as a cold front moves through the region Monday.

Avalanche danger is high for much of the high country, with waves of heavy snow and high winds. Please be extra cautious in the back country.

By mid-next week, snow chances decrease in the mountains. The plains and Denver cool down dramatically with highs only climbing into the 30s Tuesday. It will be dry, but very chilly for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Temperatures will be a bit more seasonal for New Year’s Day in Denver, with highs in the low-40s. Warmer weather returns by the end of next week.

DENVER WEATHER LINKS: Hourly forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to carlotta.olson@gazette.com at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability.

Saturday

Toucon — With Sibyl Vane & Sam E. Bee, 5 p.m., Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St., Denver, $18.50-$23.50. Tickets: larimerlounge.com.

JoFoKe & Same Cloth — 6 and 9 p.m., Dazzle at Baur’s, 1080 14th St., Denver, go online for prices. Tickets: dazzledenver.com/#/events.

Drop Dead, Gorgeous — 7 p.m., Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St., Denver, $35 and up. Tickets: summitdenver.com.

The Long Run – Colorado’s Tribute to The Eagles — 7 p.m., The Oriental Theater, 4435 W. 44th Ave., Denver, $25. Tickets: theorientaltheater.com.

Tildagrave — 8 p.m., The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues, 1624 Market St., Denver, $25.50. Tickets: theblackbuzzard.com.

Silver West — With Shawn Hess, Jake Luna, 8 p.m., Skylark Lounge, 140 S. Broadway, Denver, $12.06. Tickets: skylarklounge.com.

Ken Marino & David Wain’s Middle Aged Dad Jam Band — 8 p.m., Cervantes’ Other Side, 2635 Welton St., Denver, $38.45 and up. Tickets: cervantesmasterpiece.com.

Heir to Nothing — With The Chesters, Opium & Private Society, 8 p.m., Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St., Denver, $18.50-$23.50. Tickets: globehall.com.

Banshee Tree — With David Satori, Bloomurian, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder, $25.15-$27.15. Tickets: axs.com.

“The King Penny Radio Show” — 8-9 p.m., RISE Comedy, 1260 22nd St., Denver, $16 and up. Tickets: tinyurl.com/4cjksf3v.

Luttrell — 9 p.m., Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $36.03. Tickets: axs.com.

80’s Night with Rachel Taulbee & Friends — 9:30 p.m., BurnDown, 476 S. Broadway, Denver; burndowndenver.com.

Saturday-Sunday

“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” Holiday Ballet — Presented by the Ballet Ariel, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Parsons Theatre, 1 E. Memorial Parkway, Northglenn, $20-$40; balletariel.org.

Umphrey’s McGee — 8 p.m., Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, $55. Tickets: axs.com.

CARLOTTA OLSON, The Denver Gazette