OK, Bronco Nation, back to reality.
They can’t play the Raiders every week. Or the Chiefs, for that matter.
In case you’ve misplaced your scorecard, the Raiders have lost five straight games dating back to 2007. The Chiefs? They’re on a 10-game Lost in America Tour.
Therein lies one of the keys to the Broncos’ playoff hopes. Sure, they need Jay Cutler to break through the glass ceiling and be an elite quarterback. Obviously, they need a lot of young players, including a handful of rookies, to play like veterans.
But beating the Raiders and Chiefs is huge in the Broncos’ big picture for 2008. With two of their most bitter rivals facing tough times, the Broncos have to take advantage and sweep each of them.
Not a split, not three out of four, a sweep. Period. That would give them four wins, with another dozen games on their schedule. As in, a good chance to make the playoffs.
OK, so we’re getting ahead of ourselves here, but having seen the Raiders and Chiefs, any loss to either would be a devastating blow. For the moment, I’m wondering who’s going to win Sunday’s Raiders-Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium.
If ever a game needed a name, it’s that one. The Tidy Bowl, the Bottomfeeder Bowl something. But you get the picture. Reality in the AFC West, circa 2008, is that you can’t afford to lose to either team.
The Chargers won’t, and the Broncos can’t, either.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s sports updates on The Jimmy Page at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. And read his columns on Sundays at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
