Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Have you ever ended a relationship on bad terms with someone, just so you could get the last word?
Screaming “I never loved you” as you walked away
sobbing
smirking, or “those pants never looked good on you!”
“I pretended to like your cooking!”
That would be the line that came right before dropping the mic and walking away, and it feels oh so good, doesn’t it?
Note: None of those examples were from my personal life. I just read about them in a book.
There are few things better than getting the last word in, especially if you’re leaving on bad terms.
Last Sunday night, the Chiefs left Denver on bad terms. They had the chance to go 10-0 and “prove” to the NFL that they were “legitimate”, but in the end, the Broncos turned out to be the better team—on that night.
The Chiefs lost 17-27 and fell to 9-1. With the win, the Broncos also find themselves at 9-1. Both teams are tied atop the AFC West.
Even though the loss hurt the Chiefs and the pride of Chiefs’ Addicts everywhere, I’ve got news for you.
The Chiefs can get still the last word.
“We didn’t need to win that game, anyhow!”
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Winning in Denver would have been great and it would have been a statement game for the Chiefs, but it wasn’t the win that Kansas City needed.
The Broncos and Chiefs are tied and have one more game to play. Kansas City was a game ahead of the Broncos because they hadn’t lost heading into the game, and Denver had (to the Colts, ironically enough).
Assuming both teams win this weekend—which isn’t a guarantee, but it’s possible—the game that really matters between these two teams will happen on December 1st, which is the rematch.
Keep it mind, it’s at Arrowhead, which is arguably the toughest place to play in the NFL right now.
That’s the game that really matters, because the team that wins that game will pull ahead in this divisional race. Considering Kansas City beats San Diego and Denver beats New England (which won’t be easy), both teams will enter Arrowhead at 10-1 on that fateful Sunday, and one team is going to go away with its second loss.
If it’s the Chiefs, it is what it is and Denver is clearly the better team. If it’s Denver that loses though, the 17-27 loss at Sports Authority Field at Mile High would essentially become null and void. The Chiefs would regain their one game lead. Unless I’m mistaken, 11-1 is better than 10-2, right?
If Kansas City wins the rematch with Denver, from there it just becomes a race to see who can win more games.
After the second Denver game, the Chiefs play Washington, Oakland, Indianapolis and San Diego. The Broncos play Tennessee, San Diego, Houston and Oakland.
Say what you will, but I like the Chiefs’ remaining schedule a bit better there. This is also making a big assumption that the Broncos will be able to go into New England and beat Tom Brady and the Patriots on Sunday Night—which is no guarantee.
So Addicts, Denver may have beaten your beloved team last Sunday night, but who cares?
It was wasn’t the game that mattered for Kansas City.