Broncos

The Broncos are just one victory away from securing a playoff spot as they head into their season finale against the Chiefs. Denver’s head coach, Sean Payton, addressed the team after their Week 17 overtime defeat against the Bengals.

“I told (the team) after the game, I said, ‘This is part of it,” Payton remarked, according to ChiefsWire. “We don’t get to choose. You guys have seen the big sign when you enter that locker room area. You have to keep fighting.”

Payton is aware that Kansas City plans to rest several starters in Week 18, but he insists that they must prepare as if they are facing the Chiefs’ full-strength lineup.

“I think you have to approach it as if you’re seeing starters at these positions. You need to analyze the scheme related to the game plan and then prepare for the players highlighted in the film,” Payton stated. “If someone else is playing in that role, then so be it.”

Chiefs

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has shifted Joe Thuney to left tackle due to D.J. Humphries‘ injury. Reid mentioned he has yet to make a decision on the offensive line’s setup for the playoffs, leaving the door open for Humphries to reclaim his starting position.

“Yeah, I’m going to take it day by day. I’ve been pleased with (Mike) Caliendo and his performance. I’m also happy with Joe’s contributions,” Reid noted, as reported by ChiefsWire. “I appreciate him stepping in and maintaining a high level of play. I’m eager to see how D.J. (Humphries) develops and whether he can contribute. I will assess the situation as we progress.”

Raiders

The Raiders secured their second consecutive win in Week 17, with veteran RB Ameer Abdullah contributing 140 total yards. Las Vegas head coach Antonio Pierce expressed his admiration for Abdullah’s ability to rise to the occasion at this stage of his career.

“He found the fountain of youth,” Pierce said, as reported by Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “It’s incredible … the guy is 31 years old, and we threw him into the deep end late in the season. Kudos to him. He’s truly resilient and a consummate professional. A fantastic special teams player and returner, he seized his starting opportunity today.”

Abdullah emphasized that he is not surprised by his career-best performances in this stage of his journey, attributing his success to his consistent work ethic.

“Achieving my career-high in Year 10 doesn’t surprise me,” Abdullah stated. “I put in a lot of work and pride myself on consistency, which is why I’ve been able to maintain high performance for so long.”

Although the team lacks postseason aspirations, Abdullah appreciates their commitment to performing for one another as the season winds down.

“This really showcases how much we care about each other. We’re not playing for anything other than each other. That motivation is enough for us to go all out and execute at our best. I couldn’t be prouder of how we performed today.”

“This is probably the closest team I’ve been part of regarding relationships. We genuinely care about one another. We’ve weathered tough times together and seen each other in vulnerable moments, and we recognize the effort each of us puts in.”