It all comes down to the last Sunday of the 2024 regular season for the Broncos. Win against the Chiefs and they are in the playoffs. Lose and they are most likely out based on what Miami and Cincy do. The bottom line is that Denver has to win this game and clinch that wild card spot. They are 9-7 and have lost two in a row to the Chargers and the Bengals on the road. Now, they get a home game against the 15-1 Chiefs who have locked up the #1 seed and have nothing to play for. Andy Reid has already stated that Patrick Mahomes and some other starters are not going to play, so it will be Carson Wentz and some backups trying to knock off hte Broncos. It would be an absolute failure and disaster if the Broncos don't win and make the playoffs at this point. Yes, every Broncos fan would have signed up for 9-7 with a chance to make the playoffs with a win going into Week 18 before the season, but now they have to get it done. You can't lose at home to the Chiefs without Mahomes and some other key players. The pressure is squarely on the Broncos in this spot. They have to find a way to come through with a win.
Prediction: Kansas City (+10.5) over DENVER
Final Score: Chiefs-20 Broncos-17
Now, onto the picks for Week 18....
Last Week's Record: 7-8-1
Overall Record: 132-112-9
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
BALTIMORE (-19) over Cleveland
Cincy (-2) over PITTSBURGH
ATLANTA (-8) over Carolina
DALLAS (+6.5) over Washington
Chicago (+10) over GREEN BAY
Jacksonville (+4.5) over INDY
Buffalo (-2.5) over NEW ENGLAND
PHILLY (-2) over Giants
TAMPA BAY (-13) over New Orleans
Houston (-1) over TENNESSEE
ARIZONA (-4) over San Francisco
Chargers (-5) over LAS VEGAS
JETS (+1.5) over Miami
RAMS (+6.5) over Seattle
DETROIT (-3) over Minnesota
