The Denver Broncos aren’t finding much comfort in the absence of Patrick Mahomes and several other Kansas City Chiefs stars this Sunday, even as their playoff hopes hang in the balance.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid announced Wednesday that Mahomes would sit out the game, with Kansas City having already locked up the AFC’s top seed. Reid withheld specifics on additional absences, but it’s likely that defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf strain), running back Isiah Pacheco (rib injury), right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee soreness), and veteran tight end Travis Kelce could also rest.
Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is unfazed by the Chiefs’ lineup decisions. “We have to play the game to win that’s all that matters,” Sutton said. “Whoever’s wearing red, white, and yellow, we’ve got to beat them. It doesn’t matter who plays or who doesn’t. The Denver Broncos have to show up Sunday and win the game.”
A win on Sunday would give the Broncos (9-7) their first playoff berth since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2016, Peyton Manning’s final game. Since that triumph, Denver has endured a carousel of six head coaches and more than a dozen starting quarterbacks in a nearly decade-long playoff drought.
The Chiefs (15-1), meanwhile, are coasting into the postseason after a dominant 29-10 Christmas Day victory over Pittsburgh secured a first-round bye. With the Chiefs eyeing a third consecutive Super Bowl title, Reid is giving his starters valuable rest before their divisional-round matchup on January 18 or 19.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton commended Kansas City’s approach. “When you go 15-1, you earn the right to make these decisions,” Payton said. “For us, it’s about preparing for what’s in front of us and playing our best game.”
Denver, however, missed earlier chances to clinch a playoff spot after back-to-back losses to the Chargers and Bengals. Still, they control their destiny with a win-and-in scenario on Sunday.
“You could say it’d be nice to have everything locked in,” Sutton remarked, “but in terms of a storybook ending, this is the best opportunity to prove we belong in the playoffs.”
While Denver could sneak into the playoffs with outside help a Cincinnati loss to Pittsburgh and a Miami loss to the Jets they aren’t banking on other teams.
“We’ve got to win the game. Simple as that,” Sutton emphasized. “It’s black and white. We’ve got to win.”
The Broncos snapped a 16-game losing streak against Kansas City with a decisive 24-9 victory last season. They came heartbreakingly close to another win earlier this year, only to see a potential game-winning field goal blocked in a narrow 16-14 loss at Arrowhead.
Since that defeat, the Broncos revamped their field goal protection unit, and kicker Wil Lutz has been perfect, converting 12 consecutive field goals and 22 extra points.
Now, Denver aims to deliver its best performance of the season and finally put its playoff demons to rest.
