Broncos Looking at a Must-Win Sunday

My apologies for the brief sabbatical I've taken from my duties here on Bleacher Report, but Vegas called and sometimes, you just have to accept the charges.

Onto the Broncos.

As the ashes from the Broncos beatdown at the hands of the Carolina Panthers continue to fall, things are starting to get a little more tense here in Broncos Country.

With the opportunity to clinch the AFC West Division title yesterday with either a Chargers loss at the hands of the Chiefs or a Broncos victory, the Broncos could have wrapped up a playoff berth with just 11 shopping days left until Christmas.

The Chiefs, however, had other plans.

Clinging to an 11-point lead with just over a minute left, the Chiefs remembered exactly who we thought they were and allowed Philip "the sun was in my eyes, bro" Rivers to throw a touchdown pass. Thinking moral victories count in the final standings, the Chiefs then allowed the Chargers to recover an onside kick and march down the field for another touchdown to give them the lead at 22-21.

Just for good measure, Tyler Thigpen then drove the team into field goal range for a chance to win the game which they, of course, subsequently missed.

Thanks, Kansas City.

Coupled with the Broncos 30-10 thrashing in Carolina, the playoff berth we had seemingly already wrapped up is a bit more up in the air today.

At 8-6, we are still in the driver's seat in the division, but now hold a two-game lead over San Diego with two to play.

In my gut, however, I know this race is far from over.

Here's the worst case scenario: The Chargers walk into Tampa next week and take down the Buccaneers and the Broncos play with their usual lack of intensity at home against Buffalo and are saddled with a loss.

With a one-game lead over the Chargers going into the season's final week, we would then travel to San Diego in a winner-take-all game that would determine the AFC West Champion.

If you ask me, I don't want to take that chance.

There are many factors playing in our favor in this weekend's games. We are at home, though that's not as much of an advantage anymore, and we're playing a team that forgot the season kept going after September.

The Chargers are going to Tampa, where NFC South teams are a combined 26-2 at home this season after Sunday's bouts.

The Broncos have to view Sunday's tilt with the Bills as a must-win game. The Bills, 1-7 in their last eight games after starting the season 5-1, have been free-falling faster than the temperature in Denver this weekend.

If you ask me, I'll take my chances with a team in disarray at home than with our hated rivals finding their stride on the road.

I hope the Broncos feel the same way.