Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid noted "I've learned this over time: you can't score enough points against these teams," said the Chiefs' head coach. "You can't take anything for granted. We're going to score as much as we can until we can't do it." File Photo by Kelvin Ma/ UPI |
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KANSAS CITY -- Given the Broncos' dominance of the AFC West over the last decade, the Kansas City Chiefs not only enjoyed their 33-10 victory Sunday night over their nemesis, but reveled in making it happen while clinching a spot in the AFC playoffs and ending Denver's postseason hope for this coming January.
Yet, now the Chiefs will become Broncos fans for at least the next week. With their 11-4 record, Kansas City has a berth in the AFC tournament bracket. They still seek first place in the division and they need Denver's help to make that happen. If the Chiefs can beat the Chargers in San Diego on Sunday they would need the Broncos to stop the Oakland Raiders that same day in Denver to create a tie on top of the AFC West. Should that happen, Kansas City would win the AFC West thanks to their two victories during the season over Oakland. They would also enjoy a bye week and a game at home.
"You can't win it unless you get in," said quarterback Alex Smith. "That's the first thing we talk about. You have to get a ticket to the dance. After that, you can worry about byes, home fields and things like that."
While many pick the Raiders when the talk turns to identifying the Chiefs' biggest rival, in recent years it has become the Broncos. Denver's five-year streak of taking first place in the division caused that, including a pair of trips to the Super Bowl where the Broncos grabbed a championship last season.
Now, Kansas City needs the help of the guys wearing orange and blue, who own a 14-6 record against the Chiefs over the last 10 seasons.
"It's become this nice little rivalry here," said head coach Andy Reid. "Both teams are playing well, so it becomes an even greater rivalry."
For the first time since 2000, the Chiefs took both games against the Broncos this season, winning by a combined score of 63-37. Denver accomplished the sweep six times against Kansas City in the last 14 years. That made the Christmas night events quite fun for those in the red and gold, especially the final scoring play: a 2-yard jump pass touchdown toss from defensive tackle Dontari Poe to tight end Demetrius Harris that expanded K.C.'s lead from 17 to 23 points.
Reid wasn't apologizing for calling his defensive tackle's number at the goal line.
"I've learned this over time: you can't score enough points against these teams," said the Chiefs' head coach. "You can't take anything for granted. We're going to score as much as we can until we can't do it."
Denver head coach Gary Kubiak said he understands that thinking, although some with the Broncos thought it was rubbing the Broncos' nose in the defeat.
"It's our job to stop them," said Kubiak. "We know he can come in a game. They have plays for him. It's our job to stop those types of things. Andy has a lot of class and they're a good football team. I don't look at things like that."
At least some of the Broncos indicated they were not going to forget the sight of a defensive tackle throwing a jump pass against them in the game's final minutes.
"You know, that's Andy Reid," said outside linebacker Shane Ray. "That's what he does. He puts plays like that together. That won't be forgotten. It's not like we don't play each other twice a year. We'll remember this."
Right now, the Chiefs only hope the Broncos remember how to win for at least one more Sunday this season.
