Chiefs playoff talk: Don’t assume anything

Chiefs fans wait with baited breath on word whether Tamba will play or not this week. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

You may look at that and say “Steve, all the Chiefs need to do is win out and they’re in!” and you’d be right.  There’s a very good chance the Chiefs do just that and put my worries to rest, but I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t nervous about that last game against the Oakland Raiders.

There’s a lot of things going on here: It’s a divisional battle in one of the best long-standing rivalries in football.  Future Hall-of-Famer Charles Woodson is playing his last game after 18 seasons, so emotions will be running high for him and the rest of his teammates to get him one more win.  Last, and maybe most importantly: a Raiders win could keep the Chiefs out of the playoffs.

I’m sure there’s nothing Jack del Rio and Co. would like more after the Chiefs basically knocked them out of contention back in Week 13 with a 34-20 win in Oakland.  There’s nothing like returning the favor the very last week of the season and getting some sweet revenge.

Which is why as much as I hate depending on other teams losing I’ll be keeping one eye on the scoreboard this Sunday.  What looked like favorable matchups for the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals a couple of weeks ago is now a bit more uncertain.

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