Necessary Roughness

According to an AP report published on ESPN.com:

While eliminating the Chargers (9-6), the Chiefs (9-6) clinched the AFC West title for Denver.

For the Chiefs to make the postseason, three things have to happen:

• They must beat Cincinnati next Sunday;
• Denver has to beat the Chargers;
• On Saturday, the underdog Detroit Lions will have to upset the Steelers at Pittsburgh.

“Detroit needs to go sign Barry Sanders for just one more week,” Chiefs left tackle Willie Roaf said. “It’s going to be tough.”

One and Two are possible, even likely, given the Chiefs’ dominance at Arrowhead in December (18 in a row now). But the Lions? Against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, who put 41 on Cleveland in an away game? Ouch.

Next year they won’t have to worry about Tiki Barber, but there will be Shaun Alexander, Rudi Johnson, and whatever running back Pittsburgh plugs in. One can see next year’s opponents at johnnyroadtrip.com.