The Kansas City Chiefs rested their starters, including tight end Travis Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, for a Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos.

The game went how you might expect. Kansas City’s backups, led by quarterback Carson Wentz, barely put up a fight against red-hot Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. Denver raced out to a 24-0 halftime lead and did not look back, winning 38-0 behind four touchdowns from Nix.

By beating the team of reserves, the Broncos clinched the final AFC playoff spot.

It created the worst possible outcome for the Cincinnati Bengals, who entered the game rooting for the Chiefs to win and the Jets to beat the Dolphins to steal an unlikely playoff berth.

The Chiefs ended the Bengals’ last two seasons, beating them in the 2022 AFC Championship Game and eliminating them from the playoffs in the final week of the 2023 NFL season.

They cannot claim full credit for this year’s outcome, but some fans still enjoyed the pain of their rivals, while avoiding a possible Joe Burrow revenge game this postseason.

“Bengals fans really gonna hate us after this game,” wrote a Chiefs fan proudly on X. “Let’s all admit we want to lose,” teased a Kansas City fan under an Instagram post by the team.

Chiefs fans when they lose this game and Burrow misses the playoffs pic.twitter.com/jmwviXTKPv — Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 5, 2025 “You guys REALLY want to keep the Bengals out huh,” posted a neutral fan after seeing the score. ”

It’s looking so obvious that the Chiefs are selling on purpose,” accused another. bye Bengals! — Uncle Sam (@SamStamper1) January 5, 2025 Nix torched Kansas City, starting the game with 18 straight completions and over 250 total yards in the first half alone.

The Chiefs’ defense was overmatched without regular starters like Chris Jones, Trent McDuffie and Drue Tranquill. KC should be fined for taking a dive.

They fear Burrow so much they are letting a future backup QB run the table on them — Adam Lupu (@HowWeLearn) January 5, 2025 That’s not to mention the absence of Mahomes on the other side of the ball.

Wentz only managed 98 passing yards on 10-for-17 passing as the former Super Bowl winner got shut out by the Denver defense. Whether or not you agree that the Chiefs had ulterior motives, the outcome was a win-win.

Mahomes and Kelce will be well-rested for their Divisional Round playoff game, while Burrow will be watching them go for a three-peat at home.