Will the Chiefs Spoil the Broncos Playoff Hopes?
The final regular season game of the NFL season is upon us. During this Week 18 matchup in the Mile High City, the Kansas City Chiefs will head into town to take on the Denver Broncos. This game is crucial for the Broncos because if they secure the win at home, they’ll clinch the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. A tough 30-24 overtime loss against the Cincinnati Bengals last week has now made this final game one of desperation. Coincidentally enough, if Denver loses this game, not only would they be eliminated from postseason contention, but they would allow the Bengals to enter the NFL Playoffs as the final seed in the AFC. It’s already been announced that Chiefs backup quarterback Carson Wentz will start in place of Patrick Mahomes. Will this game be a re-welcoming party for Wentz, or will he allow a third AFC West team to seek Super Bowl aspirations?
Denver is 9-7, and they are looking to take their 10th win of the season after early-season predictions from many who did not have this team in the playoff conversation. This Broncos franchise has not seen the light of the playoffs since their Super Bowl-winning season back in 2015 when Denver defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10 at Super Bowl 50. Led by the potential NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in Bo Nix, this team will be more determined to defeat a divisional rival, a back-to-back Super Bowl championship team, and the best team currently in the NFL. It’s a big ask for a rookie quarterback, but he can lead the offense during the most important game of the season, Denver will certainly know that they have their future franchise quarterback. In the 16 games he played, Nix has thrown 3,454 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a passing completion of 65 percent. If the rookie quarterback can defeat the Chiefs led by at one point an MVP candidate back in the day in Wentz, then the future remains bright in the Mile High City.
For Kansas City, another loss wouldn’t deter their playoff situation or their near-perfect season. At 15-1, this Chiefs team has been unbelievable and looks to take their third straight Super Bowl championship. For their backup quarterback, Wentz should be putting it all on the line to keep his NFL career intact and continue playing next season. His injuries have riddled his career, but it wouldn’t be a bad thing at all for the former Super Bowl championship-winning quarterback to win this game, help the team remain near perfect at 16-1, and keep the team’s starters resting for what’s to come in the playoffs. With the Bye within the playoffs already locked down, Andy Reid could be planning a huge offensive scheme against one of their divisional rivals. It could make for an interesting storyline for next season if the Chiefs win and the Broncos take the loss, planning for a possible comeback season for Denver? Either way, this game will be huge for both fanbases!
