AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post
The Los Angeles Chargers cashed their ticket to the playoffs Saturday with a 40-7 dismantling of the New England Patriots in which completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
Their rivals, the Denver Broncos, could have earned their way into the dance with a win against the Cincinnati Bengals but were unable to get the job done, succumbing to the extraordinary Joe Burrow and Co. in overtime, 30-24.
Cincinnati Bengals @Bengals
“I don’t know that anybody can stand on the field and watch Joe Burrow and say he’s not the best player in the world…” pic.twitter.com/9yOaPdiRqj
Luckily for the Broncos, they still control their playoff chances.
A win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18 and Sean Payton’s squad is in. Considering the Chiefs wrapped up the No. 1 seed and have nothing to play for, it is likely the Broncos find a crop of backups and role players across the field from them in the final game of the season.
With that said, Chiefs backup Carson Wentz is still a formidable quarterback in the league and can beat the Broncos if Denver takes their division foes lightly.
The Bengals are still in the hunt but need considerable help.
They need to beat Pittsburgh in Week 18, which is no easy task considering Russell Wilson and Co. will be playing for the AFC North division. They need the Broncos to lose to Kansas City and Indianapolis and Miami to lose one of their final two games.
It is not an easy ask but nothing the Bengals have accomplished this season has been.
The Colts can get in if they win out, Miami wins out, and Denver loses to KC.
The Dolphins need to win out, the Broncos to lose out, and Indianapolis to lose at least one more game.
Everything revolves around the Broncos and their match-up with Kansas City, which may be the highest-stakes game of the week, depending on what happens in the NFC West.
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