It's never easy to find your way back into a Super Bowl. But for both the Broncos and Panthers, they won't even get the chance after both were eliminated from contention in Week 16.
Denver had an outside chance at making the playoffs entering Sunday, but their hopes were dashed by a crushing defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs. Carolina's slim odds also came to an end after the Panthers lost to the Falcons.
It marks the first time since 2003 that both Super Bowl squads failed to make the playoffs the following season.