SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT DENVER BRONCOS

BY ADAM GREENE

Well, the idea was for the NFL to put games with real playoff implications on Saturday now that college football has all but abandoned the stage. Because there are only three playoff spots left and choosing games that impact those would “ruin” the Sunday bracket, we’re stuck with a game like the Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, a contest in which I’m pretty sure most of the players don’t even want to show up and play.

The Chiefs’ stumble last week knocked them down to the No. 2 seed in the AFC, so now this is a game they must care about. If it was Sunday and the Tennessee Titans were roundly destroying the Houston Texans, Andy Reid could pull his starters in the second half. Now, he’s got to play it out, in Denver of all places. Kansas City has no one to blame but themselves.

The Broncos could very well be in the curtain call for head coach Vic Fangio. If not, then surely for offensive coordinator Pat Shurmer and quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and probably Drew Lock, though I don’t see the problem in keeping him as a back up.

This will be the 124^th all time meeting between the old AFL rivals. The Chiefs hold a 68-55 advantage and have won the last 12 match ups between the two franchises going back to Nov. 2015. Their last game was an ugly 22-9 Kansas City victory. Patrick Mahomes threw for just 184 yards, no touchdowns and an interception for the Chiefs. Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed 14 times for 54 yards and led all KC receivers with three catches for 28 yards. Teddy Bridgewater threw for 257 yards, one touchdown and two picks. Javonte Williams had 102 yards on the ground and caught six pases for 76 yards and a score.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT DENVER BRONCOS (+10.5, O/U: 44)

Location: Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colo.

Broadcast: ESPN/ABC

Kickoff: Jan. 2, 4:30 p.m.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-5)

The Chiefs fell in the final seconds of a 34-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. Mahomes threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Darrell Williams had 88 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and Mecole Hardman caught one pass for 53 yards. Kansas City’s defense sacked Joe Burrow four times, but surrendered 415 yards passing and allowed J’Marr Chase to pile up 266 yards and three touchdowns on 11 receptions.

DENVER BRONCOS (7-9)

Denver was never really in its game last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, losing 34-13. Drew Lock finished 18 of 25 for 245 yards and a touchdown before getting knocked from the game. No. 3 QB Brett Rypien never completed a pass in two attempts. Melvin Gordon rushed for 43 yards and Noah Fant caught six passes for 92 yards. The Broncos’ defense never laid a glove on Justin Herbert and forced zero turnovers.

THE PICK

Lock should be back for the Broncos, for whatever good it does Saturday. Kansas City’s goal here has to be to win and get the hell out of Denver as fast as they can. As such, that spread could be a little high, but I don’t see a lot of fight in this Denver team that should be making major changes in the offseason. Chiefs 24, Broncos 13

Last Week

Straight up: 14-2

Against the spread: 8-8

Season

Straight up: 159-96-1

Against the spread: 183-123

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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