The Denver Broncos can clinch a playoff berth with a win on Sunday, and head coach Sean Payton isn¡¯t concerned that the opposition won¡¯t be at full strength.
Denver (9-7) plays host to the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), who have wrapped up AFC West title and the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs. The Chiefs will hold out quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other starters in the regular-season finale to keep the squad healthy for a run at a third consecutive Super Bowl title.
¡°Like I said to the team this morning, ¡¯Our focus has got to be on this team in general,¡¯¡± Payton said on Wednesday. ¡°They¡¯ll be, I¡¯m sure, some different people in different places.
¡°Credit to Kansas City, (Chiefs coach) Andy (Reid) and his team. When you go 15-1, then you¡¯re afforded those decisions. I¡¯ve been in that position where your team might need a break here or there. They¡¯ve earned that, and that¡¯s part of the deal. For us, it¡¯s about understanding what we¡¯re seeing scheme-wise and being ready to play our best game.¡±
Chiefs backup QB Carson Wentz will get the start in place of Mahomes. Wentz owns a 47-45-1 record as an NFL starter but is on his fifth team in five years and has made just one start over the past two seasons, a win for the Los Angeles Rams one year ago this week.
¡°He¡¯s in this league for a reason,¡± Payton said. ¡°He¡¯s big, and he¡¯s strong. He was a first-round draft pick. We spoke during the offseason a little bit with him and his agents. It¡¯s the player but it¡¯s also everything around it and understanding what they¡¯re trying to do.¡±
The Broncos would wrap up a wild-card berth with a victory or if both the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals lose or tie this weekend.
¡°I¡¯ve got a lot of confidence in the team,¡± Payton said. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a big game. Like I said before, I think we¡¯ll play in bigger, but this is a big game. It¡¯s a division opponent. We¡¯re playing a team with championship pedigree. They¡¯re well-coached and we¡¯ve got a tremendous amount of respect for what they¡¯ve accomplished.
¡°We understand (that) we¡¯re going to have to play well. That¡¯s what gets you excited about coaching in this league. It¡¯s what gets you excited about playing in this league. It¡¯s important we have a good week of preparation.¡±
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