DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Broncos have one last chance to take playoff destiny into their own hands – but that comes against the NFL-leading Kansas City Chiefs visiting the Mile High City on Sunday.
The Broncos will secure a playoff spot if they can beat or tie the Chiefs. If not, it comes down to hoping the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins tie or lose their games. The benefit for the Broncos is that the Chiefs have nothing left to gain, having already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, so at least some of the team’s starters, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, are not expected to play.
How to watch Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs on TV
The Denver Broncos are hosting the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field this week.
Kickoff: Sunday, 2:25 p.m. MT
TV channel: CBS
Kickoff between the Broncos and Chiefs takes place on Sunday at 2:25 p.m. The game will be carried live on CBS.
Tickets for Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
This is probably the last chance to see the Broncos at home this season, as any playoff run would likely take place on the road. And tickets are not cheap.
Ticketmaster has availability throughout the Mile High Stadium, but a single seat starts at $150 and prices only go up from there.
Broncos insist they don’t care who sits out for Chiefs as Denver seeks to end a long playoff drought
Resale website StubHub has single seats available in the high $100 range, but if you’re looking for a pair of tickets together you’ll be spending upwards of $200 each.
Forecast for Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Denver’s weather on Sunday includes a mix of sun and clouds with light winds out of the north between 5 and 10 mph.
The temperature during the game will be in the 30s, starting around 38 degrees at kickoff and cooling through the afternoon and evening toward freezing when the game ends.
There may be some snow visible around the stadium as Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Travis Michels is looking at about an inch of snow Saturday night in the Denver metro area.
Key things to know for Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Denver Broncos aren’t necessarily breathing any easier knowing they won’t have to face Patrick Mahomes and several other Kansas City Chiefs starters on Sunday with a playoff berth on the line.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid announced his decision to rest Mahomes on Wednesday, but declined to say who else might spend the day with the three-time Super Bowl MVP on the sideline in Denver with Kansas City having already secured the AFC’s top seed.
There’s a good chance that superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones (strained calf) will sit this one out along with running back Isiah Pacheco (bruised ribs), right tackle Jawaan Taylor (sore knee) and veteran tight end Travis Kelce, who similarly skipped last year’s Week 18 game, among others.
“We have to play the game to win, that’s all that matters,” Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. “We don’t care about none of the other stuff. Whoever has on shoulder pads and is wearing red, white and yellow, we have to beat them boys.
“We don’t care who shows up and plays,” Sutton continued. “We don’t care who sits. We don’t care who doesn’t play, who does play. We don’t care about any of that. The Denver Broncos have to show up Sunday and win the game.”
If they do, the Broncos (9-7) will clinch a playoff berth for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 in Peyton Manning’s final game on Feb. 7, 2016.
“You know, a credit to Kansas City, Andy and his team,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “When you go 15-1, then you’re afforded those decisions and I’ve been in that position where your team might need a break here or there. They’ve earned that and that’s part of the deal. For us, it’s about understanding what we’re seeing scheme-wise and being ready to play our best game.”
The Broncos blew chances to wrap up a playoff berth with road losses to the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals the last two weeks. But they’re embracing the moment as they control their destiny with a win-and-in game at home on Sunday.
“You could say that it would have been nice to be able to go into this game and have your position locked in,” Sutton said, “but in terms of a storybook thing that you couldn’t really write up any better, I think this is the best opportunity that we could have to go in and solidify why we deserve to be in the dance.”
The Broncos snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Chiefs with a 24-9 win in Denver last season, and they were on the verge of beating Kansas City in Week 10 at Arrowhead Stadium when the Chiefs blocked a 33-yard field goal as time expired to preserve a 16-14 victory.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
