[Cactus Jack]

I have less faith in the Jets beating the Dolphins than the other 2. Of course the Chiefs not playing anyone against the Broncos hurt as well but I could see the Chiefs JV winning before the Jets varsity team winning.

I totally agree with this. Aaron Rodgers has seemingly aged out right before our eyes this year. I’d be surprised if they even score a touchdown next week. KC’s backups over Denver wouldn’t surprise me, neither would the hot Bengals winning on the road against the sliding Steelers. But the Jets over Miami—-just don’t see it.

KC wont beat Denver on purpose, they dont want Cincy in playoffs.

Season is over.

Silly logic(not surprised).  Chiefs may lose but it will have NOTHING to do with them tanking to keep the 8-8 Bengals out.  The Bengals would go to Buffalo, NOT KC, and no team tanks worrying about a 8-8 that they might face three games into the playoffs. Take a course in logical reasoning.

On Week 18 games, the NFL is a business and it's full of professionals. There are going to be lots of players out there who wouldn't see playing time otherwise. For many of them, this is their chance to get film out for that could be the difference in them ever playing in the NFL again. Don't discount that, or the coaches & administration who are in the same boat.


To get in, Cincinnati needs three things to happen (win, Miami loss, and Denver loss). You'd think that the biggest obstacle is the Jets beating the Dolphins, but the early lines tell a different story. Bengals are favored against the Steelers (-1.5), but the Dolphins are actually only a slight favorite over the Jets (-1) while the Broncos are a huge favorite against the Chiefs (-9.5).


I don't think Kansas City really cares about actually playing Cincinnati. If they played them, it'd mean that the Bengals went to Buffalo and knocked off the Bills. That's the only way the two teams meet. The Chiefs biggest worries are Buffalo and Baltimore, more specifically that the two stay in each other's bracket (or are eliminated by someone else).

The ideal scenario for KC is probably Baltimore over Cleveland, which locks them in at #3 and in a Conference Semi with Buffalo if both advance. Not sure whether they'd like to see Pittsburgh or Los Angeles as the #5 or #6, but this probably depends on how they feel each would fare against Baltimore and Houston in Round 1 and only then how they'd fare against them head-to-head.

KC's nightmare scenario is Cleveland beating Baltimore, Pittsburgh beating Cincinnati, and Miami beating the Jets. This could easily leave #7 Miami going to Buffalo, #5 Baltimore stomping the Texans again before visiting KC in Round 2, and Buffalo as a big home favorite over #3 Pittsburgh.


With both AFC North games being played Saturday and the Dolphins/Jets kicking off at the same time as them the following day, I don't know that there's really much that Kansas City really controls past whether or not the Broncos may get in, but letting Denver beat them is also the only sure-fire way to ensure that Buffalo doesn't get Miami in the first round.