Week 17 NFL Schedule: Chiefs Vs. Broncos Not Moved Since Denver Could Already Clinch Before Game Starts

The Denver Broncos will play a late afternoon game on New Year's Day against the Kansas City Chiefs because the Chiefs couldn't get things done against the Oakland Raiders last Sunday. Had the Chiefs won that game, this Sunday's game between Denver and Kansas City would have been a winner take-all for the AFC West, a sure-fire selection for NBC's Sunday Night Football, according to Sports Illustrated's Peter King.

However, the Raiders won in overtime and created a cascading effect. The Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs while the Raiders stayed in it. The Chargers had also lost, which meant that the division came down to the Broncos and the Raiders.

However, the Broncos have three ways to make it into the playoffs as the AFC West champions. The only way they are out is if they lose and the Raiders win. The NFL would have a dud on its broadcast if the Raiders lose earlier in the day. As a result, King points out, NBC wouldn't want that. Instead, they took the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants because that is a win-and-in for either team while the rest of the division is already eliminated.

For more on this Week 17 game, visit Broncos blog Mile High Report and Chiefs blog Arrowhead Pride. Be sure to check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Week 17 NFL Schedule: Cowboys Vs. Giants Chosen For Sunday Night Football; Chiefs Vs. Broncos Remains New Year's Day Afternoon Game

The Denver Broncos lost to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday afternoon and will now need to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West title. However, that New Year's Day game won't be moved to NBC's Sunday Night Football broadcast. Two weeks after having its game against the New England Patriots denied a spot on the network, the Broncos will host the Chiefs at Mile High on Sunday afternoon. The network chose instead to show the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants.

The Giants currently hold first place in the NFC East, but the Cowboys can win the division by defeating the Giants. The two teams met on Sunday Night Football during Week 14. The Giants defeated the Cowboys on the road, 37-34. Eli Manning threw a touchdown and led a second scoring drive for the win in the final four minutes of the game. Brandon Jacsobs had the go-ahead score on a one-yard run with 45 seconds left in the game.

Apparently NBC doesn't buy into a Tim Tebow vs. Kyle Orton matchup. It might not be pretty, after all.

For more on this Week 17 game, visit Broncos blog Mile High Report and Chiefs blog Arrowhead Pride. Be sure to check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

NFL Schedule Week 17: Chiefs Vs. Broncos Is A Strong Candidate To Be Flexed

The Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs might have next Sunday's game moved to Sunday Night Football.