Chiefs vs. Broncos: The Closing Line

It's that time folks. Time to close the book on another frustrating season for the Kansas City Chiefs. In the coming weeks, many of us will break down the positives and negatives, but for today let's focus our efforts one last time on a Chiefs victory against a hated divisional rival.

In The Opening Line, we saw that the Broncos were 3 point favorites and the total was set at 36.5. Has anything changed with the division on the line for the Broncos? Is Romeo firing the boys up for one last gasp? Will Tebow heal the sick? The answers to some of these questions and more, and a special gameday tribute in our final edition of The Closing Line.

Well, it's crazy/funny line movement time again. Back in week 15 against the Packers we saw the line move crazily on game day and it is doing it again today. While the line has hovered in the 3/3.5 range all week, at this second at the Las Vegas Hilton the line is down to 2 and the total is 37.5. Offshore, places like TopBet.com have the line as low as 1. We have been through this before, and obviously some good money is coming in on KC to drive the line down. It is not public money in my opinion either, because Denver has become one of the most public teams in the league thanks to their QB, whose name eludes me. I'll be honest. I am not betting this game today. I think the Chiefs are the better team, but Denver may just have one miracle left in them and I do not want to lose money to that QB again. So it's a no play for me.

Week 17 inactives

Ruled out before Sunday: TE Jake Ballard (knee), RB Jackie Battle (foot), RB Reggie Bush (knee), WR Randall Cobb (groin), RB Mark Ingram (toe), WR Greg Jennings (knee), QB Colt McCoy (head), RB Darren McFadden (foot), WR Lance Moore (hamstring), WR Legedu Naanee (foot), WR Jordan Norwood (head), K Dave Rayner (left groin), WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring), QB Brad Smith (hamstring), RB James Starks (knee), TE Delanie Walker (jaw).

Top players we're watching

Early games (1 p.m. ET)

RB Marion Barber (calf, doubtful)
WR Deion Branch (groin, questionable)
TE Dallas Clark (neck, questionable)
RB Roy Helu (toe, questionable)
RB Chris Johnson (ankle, questionable)
RB LeSean McCoy (ankle, questionable): inactive
RB Arian Foster (knee, probable): inactive
WR Wes Welker (knee, questionable)

Late games (4 p.m. ET)

WR Anquan Boldin (knee, doubtful)
WR Jacoby Ford (foot, questionable)
QB Kevin Kolb (head, questionable)
RB Ryan Mathews (calf, questionable)
RB Beanie Wells (knee, questionable)

Night game (8:20 p.m. ET)

RB Felix Jones (hamstring, questionable)

Steve in RI's Selections:

I'm biting on a sucker bet but I do not care:

3 team/ 9 point teaser New England -1, San Fran -2, Atlanta -1

Minnesota -2.5

Houston +1

Indy +3.5

Casey Wiegmann

If the reports are true, this will be the final game for Casey Wiegmann, and while his skills have eroded a bit, let's take a moment to acknowledge a true man of the game. His legendary consecutive snap streak is insane and through the rigors of every season, he has not missed a game in over ten seasons. He played 9 of his 15 seasons in Kansas City, made one Pro Bowl for Denver in 2008, and was part of one of the greatest offensive lines in KC and NFL history in the early 2000's. Best of luck to Casey in retirement and hopefully a guy like Rodney Hudson can be in that spot for as long as Casey.

That's all folks for Week 17. Wherever you are watching, I hope you enjoy the game and I do hope we pull this one off. I will sacrifice a few draft spots to possibly have the 3rd place schedule next year, which looks to be easier than the 4th. Heck, who cares, we will beat them all next year anyways! Have a great day and for now this has been our final edition of The Closing Line.