B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 132; Flight Crew Type 794
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
On Decent into Denver we were on the BOSSS arrival; however DEN was landing south. We anticipated that we would be given a different arrival. DEN Center informed us of a change to the ZPLYN arrival. We briefed the ZPLYN arrival and the ILS to 17R.  [The Captain] put the new arrival and approach into the FMC. We verified it. There were reports of moderate precipitation and icing on the arrival; but we didn't experience any deviations or icing. Upon contacting approach; they informed us we were to expect the RNP Z to 17R. We had mentioned it being a possibility since it linked up to the arrival.  [The Captain] put into the FMC; and I verified the approach. However; I failed to realize (and didn't fully verify) that part of the ILS was still in the box creating a discontinuity.  [The Captain] briefed the RNP; and we set up for RNP Z; and were cleared for the approach. At QWIKE; the airplane didn't initiate the approach. At STAAM when the aircraft didn't initiate the turn and we were not in a descent; [the Captain] started to initiate the turn and descent. At that time; ATC queried us if we were going to make the altitude. We informed ATC that we were not. ATC gave us a vector to the north and a subsequent visual approach to 16L. We briefed the approach for 16L and landed without further incident.
B737NG First Officer reported track and altitude deviations occurred on arrival into DEN when the FMC was mis-programmed following a late clearance change.