NFL fans are convinced the Kansas City Chiefs deliberately lost their regular season finale against the Broncos… in an attempt to avoid facing the Bengals in the playoffs!
Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and company traveled to Colorado for their Week 18 matchup with little to play for and Andy Reid rested most of his big guns ahead of the postseason.
While there was little at stake for the reigning Super Bowl champions, the game had huge implications elsewhere, with the Bengals on the outside looking in and hoping that Kansas City would do them a favor and prevent the Broncos from winning.
Instead, the Broncos sealed their first playoff berth in eight years with a remarkable 38-0 victory over the Chiefs, who were 15-1 entering the game.
The Bengals and Chiefs have plenty of recent history, with Joe Burrow and company beating KC in Arrowhead in the 2021 postseason only to lose in the Super Bowl.
The following year, the Bengals again beat the Chiefs 27-24, before a notable game in the 2022 playoffs in which the Chiefs won after Harrison Butker kicked a 45-yard field goal with just three seconds left. on the clock.
In 2023, the Bengals traveled to Arrowhead for the AFC Championship game and the build-up was dominated by trash talk, with Cincinnati cornerback Mike Hilton referring to the Chiefs' stadium as 'Burrowhead.'
At the time, Burrow was 3-0 in Kansas City, but has since lost his last three appearances, the most recent of which was an incredible 26-25 Chiefs victory in September.
Fans are convinced the Chiefs wanted to avoid a repeat of this season's playoff matchup, preferring instead for the Broncos to enter the postseason.
In X, former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III wrote: “The Chiefs did everything they could to make sure the Bengals didn't make the Playoffs.” MY GOD.'
Another fan added: 'The Chiefs beat the Bengals three years in a row,' while one said: 'The Chiefs are scared of the Bengals! That's why they rested their starters and let the Broncos win.
Meanwhile, others disagreed, stating that the Bengals had plenty of opportunities to seal their own fate, reminding others who started the season 0-3 and then 1-5.
Trey Wingo wrote: 'All games count the same amount. Start better!' in a direct message to Cincinnati fans.
In the game at Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon, the second-string Chiefs were easily defeated with Carson Wentz at QB.
Bo Nix threw four touchdown passes and 321 yards of total offense in a remarkable display, and the Chiefs failed to score a touchdown for the first time this season.
The Broncos will now face the Bills in Buffalo in next weekend's wild card round, while the Chiefs have a bye before the division series a week later.
Elsewhere, the Steelers take on the Ravens and the Chargers take on the Texans, with the Chiefs awaiting the winner.