The Week 18 regular-season finale results do not affect the Kansas City Chiefs’ postseason plans, but they mean everything for the Denver Broncos. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s performance will again be crucial in deciding the team’s fate, with the extra incentive of avenging the memorable Week 10 loss.
The Chiefs hung on for the 16-14 victory at Arrowhead Stadium on November 10th, largely thanks to Leo Chenal’s special teams block. Nix connected on 22 passes for 215 yards and two scores, and he was impressive in driving the Broncos down the field for the eventual blocked game-winning field goal attempt.
“I feel like every team practices their four-minute offense,” said Nix during his Week 10 postgame press conference. “I thought as far as that drive taking five or six minutes off the clock, that is what everybody wants to do; they just made one extra play. When we thought it was in our hands, it wasn’t.”
After Denver’s Week 17 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Nix has nine games with at least two touchdown passes this season, joining Justin Herbert and Baker Mayfield as the only rookie quarterbacks all-time with nine games of two or more touchdown passes.
Denver clinches a playoff berth with a victory over Kansas City on Sunday or losses or ties from the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.