The Broncos have everything to play for. The Chiefs have nothing to play for. And that’s exactly how it looked on the first drive.
Denver marched the ball down the field to take a 7-0 lead when a short pass from Bo Nix to Marvin Mims turned into a 32-yard touchdown.
If the Broncos win, they’re the No. 7 seed in the AFC and they’ll open the playoffs at Buffalo next weekend. If the Broncos lose, their season is over.
The Chiefs have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the team doesn’t mean anything to them. Whether they’ll play competitively remains to be seen, but they didn’t do much to compete on the first drive.
It’s out of the Bengals’ hands now.
Saturday’s 19-17 win over the reeling Steelers means that the Bengals can still wind up in the postseason if the Broncos and Dolphins lose their regular season finales on Sunday. The presence of players like Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson and the team’s current five-game winning streak has led to a lot of conversation about how tough a team they would be to face should they get a ticket to the playoffs.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor signed on to that theory after Saturday’s win.
“They’re capable of everything,” Taylor said, via the team’s website. “They don’t want us in this tournament, I promise you.”
While the Bengals might be left feeling like it was a desire to see them stay at home should the Chiefs roll over in Denver or the Jets play the same way they’ve played all season, they can’t really have any gripes with anyone but themselves about missing the playoffs. A 4-8 start to the season is why they have to rely on other results to make it into the dance and it’s not clear that the Bills, who would host the Bengals next weekend, are quaking in their boots about facing such a team to kick off their postseason run.
The Chiefs spent longer on the tarmac today than they’ll spend on the football field tomorrow, even if they play a full overtime period.
Via the Associated Press, the Chiefs’ plane to Denver finally has taken off, after a four-hour delay following boarding.
An ice storm shut down the Kansas City airport. The Chiefs had tried to accelerate their departure, but the plane was delayed in arriving. Eventually, all flights were stopped due to “rapid ice accumulation.”
When the airport finally re-opened, the flight carrying the Chiefs was the first one out.
They face the Broncos on Sunday in a game that means nothing to the Chiefs but everything to the home team. The Broncos claim the last spot in the AFC playoff field with a win. Even if they lose, losses by the Bengals (at Steelers) tonight and Dolphins (at Jets) tomorrow would allow the Broncos to back into the playoffs with three straight losses to end the regular season.
The Chiefs, who have clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference, will be resting quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other key starters, sacrificing the chance to knock the Broncos out for some rest and recovery in advance of their first playoff game in two weeks.
Mother Nature is making it a bit harder for the Chiefs to get to Denver ahead of Sunday’s game.
The airport in Kansas City has been closed due to icy conditions and multiple reports say that the Chiefs plane did not take off before the closure took place. The game in Denver is scheduled to take place at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.
A Winter Storm Warning was put in place for the Kansas City area at noon on Saturday and is in place through Monday, so returning from Denver could also be an issue for the Chiefs after they play the Broncos.
The Broncos need a win to clinch a playoff berth and the extended travel day for the Chiefs could help their bid to get that victory.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said his team would be resting starters for this weekend’s matchup against the Broncos and his team’s injury report reflects that.
Kansas City announced quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle), defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf), and cornerback Trent McDuffie (knee) are doubtful with their respective injuries. Linebacker Nick Bolton, running back Kareem Hunt, defensive end George Karlaftis, safety Justin Reid, linebacker Drue Tranquill, and tight end Travis Kelce are all doubtful due to a coach’s decision.
As Reid noted earlier, Running back Isiah Pacheco (rib) and offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) are out.
With so many doubtful and out players, some may be active on Sunday even if they’re not going to play.
Returning from injured reserve, receiver Mecole Hardman (knee) and cornerback Jaylen Watson (ankle) are both out.
Left tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring), defensive tackle Mike Pennel (hamstring), defensive back Chamarri Conner (concussion), receiver Nikko Remigio (wrist), and cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (shoulder) are off the injury report and are expected to play.
