Broncos Receive Unfortunate Update Ahead of Crucial Week 18 Game Against Chiefs.
In Week 18, the Bengals triumphed over the Pittsburgh Steelers, securing their own playoff spot and, in the process, shutting down one of the Broncos’ backup plans to sneak into the postseason. Now, with their options limited, the Broncos are faced with a true must-win scenario as they prepare for their season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“With the Bengals finishing a 5-game win streak at 9-8, their victory tonight has made it clear: the Broncos now face a true must-win,” Mike Klis of 9News tweeted on January 4. “Beat the Chiefs, and the Broncos are in; lose to the Chiefs, and they’re out.”
The official NFL.com Playoff Picture still has the Broncos listed as “in the hunt” for a postseason spot.
But if they fail to end their playoff drought, the blame falls squarely on them.
The Broncos had two golden opportunities to secure a playoff berth but squandered both, starting with a Week 16 loss to Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers, followed by a Week 17 defeat to Joe Burrow and the Bengals. These setbacks allowed their AFC West rivals to leapfrog them in the standings.
Despite the recent struggles, NFL.com’s tracker still gives the Broncos an 82% chance to make the playoffs, which reflects their remaining path to postseason contention.
The Chiefs are resting several key players for their Week 18 matchup, including starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In addition to Mahomes, several other important players have been listed as doubtful, some for non-injury reasons, and the team may opt to pull any usual starters who do play. This approach mirrors the strategy the Chiefs used in their 2023 Week 18 game against the Chargers.
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