The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed with one week remaining in the 2024 regular season. With everything already accomplished for the defending champions, Jonathan Jones, CBS Sports NFL Insider reported Sunday morning that Andy Reid is expected to rest key players in Week 18 when his club travels to Denver to face the Broncos. After all, this game makes no sense for the Chiefs at this point, but this decision to hold back star players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce could have a monumental impact on the game. general playoff table.
After the Bengals managed to outlast the Broncos in Saturday’s overtime victory, the AFC’s final playoff spot is still up for grabs. For Denver, the path is simple. All the Broncos need to do is defeat the Chiefs in Week 18, and they are. So, if the Chiefs choose to rest players like this latest report indicates, the Broncos’ path to securing a playoff spot becomes that much easier.
If the Broncos win, it would also eliminate the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts from the playoffs. In a roundabout way, the Chiefs would oust Joe Burrow – who has had success against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs during his career – from the playoffs and eliminate lots of wild scenarios so other AFC teams can sneak in.
For example, the Colts are still alive in the playoff race, but any path is moot if the Broncos win next week. For Indy to get in, they would have to win, Denver would have to lose and the Dolphins would have to win. Another scenario would include the Colts winning again and the Broncos losing in Week 18, while the Bengals beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 18.
For the Bengals, arguably the most dangerous team in this group of playoff contenders, they should beat the Steelers on the road in Week 18, have the Broncos lose to the Chiefs and have the Dolphins and Colts. of their two remaining matches.
As for the Dolphins, if they win, they have a chance. They would also need the Colts to lose at least one of their two remaining games and the Broncos to lose in Week 18.
As you can see, everything has to do with the Broncos losing in Week 18 for these other clubs to have a chance, and their playoff hopes are getting a little dimmer, with Carson Wentz likely to start for KC in week 18 rather than Patrick Mahomes.
