Ah, the AFC West; home to the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champions in the Kansas City Chiefs, the rebuilding Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos, and, well, whatever the Las Vegas Raiders are doing.
Most people could have predicted that Kansas City, who lifted the Lombardi Trophy at the end of both the ’22 and ’23 seasons, were bound to make noise during their ’24 campaign. That much was obvious. What wasn’t so obvious, however, is the postseason berth Los Angeles earned under Jim Harbaugh‘s first year, immediately after parting ways with seemingly all wide receiver talent on the roster prior to the season’s start.
Luckily rookie Ladd McConkey has been everything Harbaugh hoped he’d be, and more.
Even more surprising is the 9-7 Denver Broncos. Sean Payton’s club, led by rookie signal caller Bo Nix, will punch their ticket into the playoffs with a win over their AFC West rivals from Kansas City in Week 18. While facing the Chiefs is normally a sure-fire way to lose a football game, the circumstances have been made significantly easier with the news of Andy Reid resting his team’s starters during the season’s last week.
The AFC West very well may house three playoff teams. And, the Las Vegas Raiders.
There’s no surprises when it comes to the Raiders; not in a positive way, at least. Despite having a superstar on both sides of the field, being rookie Brock Bowers and All-Pro Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas has managed to string together a mere four wins through 16 contests. Per Davante Adams, who began the season with the Raiders prior to asking for a trade that landed him with the New York Jets, this is a team that “Bullsh*ts all week and then goes out there and expects to do well.”
Two, or three playoff teams? Week 18’s AFC West bout will decide
While the Chargers have locked into a wildcard spot come January, Kansas City has officially secured the top-seed in the AFC. For that reason, Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid has decided to not risk the health of his starters in what’s essentially a meaningless contest.
Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos are smiling ear to ear over that fact.
It seems as if Kansas City has found a rather miraculous way to squeak out a win each contest this season. The team’s Week 10 win against the Broncos is certainly no exception. Denver, who had driven the ball into Chiefs’ territory during the game’s final drive, set themselves up with a game-winning field goal from 35 yards out. The NFL-world watched in awe as Kansas City blocked the kick to end the contest with a two-point victory.
The Broncos would’ve headed into Week 18 with their sights set on revenge regardless of who was playing for the Chiefs; the back-up units taking the field instead of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, in addition to the defense that originally held Denver to 14 points, only makes things sweeter.
Denver still to take care of business, however. While not needing to go toe-to-toe with Mahomes is always an enormous plus, to say the least, Andy Reid poses a threat no matter who’s quarterbacking for his team. Beyond that, you can bet no player on the Chiefs has any intentions of letting their AFC West rivals into the postseason.
Fortunately for Denver, this contest will take place at Mile High. Kansas City may not be able to overcome such a disadvantage in player availability while on the road. If they can, however, the Broncos will not be partaking in the 2024 postseason.
*Top Photo: AP Photo/David Zalubowski
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