As the AFC's top seed in the upcoming postseason, the Kansas City Chiefs have won the right to rest their starters in Week 18.
Their division rivals, the Denver Broncos, don't have that privilege. They need to win to ensure they make the playoffs, meaning they aren't wasting time trying to predict which notable Chiefs will or won't play on Sunday. At this point, the goal remains the same regardless of opponent.
"We have to play the game to win, that's all that matters," wide receiver Courtland Sutton said, via the Associated Press. "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."
The Broncos nearly did so once already this season, coming a blocked field goal short of upsetting the Chiefs in Kansas City. In that game, the Chiefs' starters were performing with maximum effort, yet the Broncos still almost defeated them.
This time around, the Chiefs won't be playing many of their key members, perhaps making the Broncos' path to the postseason a little smoother. Just don't suggest that thought to Sutton.
"We don't care who shows up and plays," Sutton said. "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."
Denver could have also considered resting their starters in Week 18 had they defeated the Bengals last weekend and secured their playoff spot. They didn't, though, falling in overtime to keep the Bengals' and Dolphins' hopes alive.
That game -- and the other six they lost -- are now in the past, according to Sutton.
"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."
There truly is no better way to secure a playoff spot than by earning it with a win over a rival to close the season. Denver will have such a chance Sunday; it just might look a little different this time around.
