Gridiron: Broncos blow NFL playoffs

The San Francisco 49ers beat Denver in overtime 26-23 to deny the Broncos the final National Football League playoff berth.

The New York Jets and the Broncos entered the final day of the regular season knowing they could punch their playoff tickets with victories.

The Jets did what they had to do, beating hapless Oakland 23-3.

Denver's loss was the Kansas City Chiefs' gain. They had done all they could with a 35-30 victory over Jacksonville, but needed Cincinnati, Tennessee and Denver all to lose to claim an American Football Conference wild card.

Cincinnati duly fell to Pittsburgh, while Tennessee lost to New England.