Rivals can sometimes offer unexpected assistance, and that’s exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs did for the Denver Broncos with their 29-10 Christmas Day victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. This win improved the Broncos’ playoff hopes and potentially eased their path to postseason play. Kansas City’s victory means that they are now more likely to rest key starters in their Week 18 matchup against the Broncos, a strategy that head coach Andy Reid has consistently employed once the Chiefs’ playoff spot is secured. This will increase Denver’s chances of winning that crucial game.
For the Broncos, securing a win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday is essential to clinch a playoff spot, though it won’t be easy, as the Bengals are riding a three-game winning streak. However, even if Denver wins, they will still face a significant challenge in their season finale against Kansas City. Currently, Denver holds the No. 7 seed in the AFC, which would likely set them up for a tough road matchup against the No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round, a highly challenging opponent that could jeopardize their hopes of securing their first postseason win since Super Bowl 50.
Nevertheless, there is still hope for the Broncos to improve their position. If they can finish a game ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers or Pittsburgh Steelers, they could move up to the No. 5 seed, which would set them up for a more favorable matchup in the wild-card round. The situation will become clearer after Sunday’s games, but regardless of the outcome, the Chiefs’ securing the top seed in the AFC and likely resting their starters is a significant positive development for Denver. With this fortunate turn of events, the Broncos’ playoff prospects are looking brighter as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.
