The Pain:
1 - The Chefs rushed for 317 yards in embarrassing the Broncos 44-24
2 - LB Derrick Johnson ran back two Kyle Orton INTs for TDs - one for 45 yards, the other for 60 yards
3 - The Broncos finished 8-8 for the second consecutive season and are now 32-32 over the past four years with zero playoff appearances
4 - After starting the year 6-0, Denver finished 2-8
5 - Denver was 0-3 at home this season versus AFC West opponents
6 - The home crowd didn't exactly help, booing the Broncos early and often - shame on those "fans"
The Solace:
1 - With the Ravens and Jets winning, Denver would not have made the playoffs, even had they won
2 - Not that you can take any games for granted (see yesterday), but the Broncos' 2010 schedule looks somewhat lighter than this year's, at first glance
3 - The Broncos have a head coach who will not put up with players who exhibit losing or "me-first" attitudes
4 - Kyle Orton's first year in the Erhardt/Perkins/Weis/McDaniels Offense was statistically quite similar to Tom Brady's first three seasons in New England (for what that's worth). Take note of the YPA, Rating, Yards, Comp %, TDs, INTs, Big Plays
NFL - Kansas City Chiefs 44 at Denver Broncos 24 - Box Score
DB - Chiefs Postgame: McDaniels - Broncos TV
DB - Chiefs Postgame: Report - Broncos TV
NFL GameDay - Chiefs vs. Broncos highlights - Videos
DPP - No playoffs for Broncos - Mike Klis
DPP - B-Marsh's final word: You can't count on me - Mark Kiszla
"Denver coach Josh McDaniels was 100 percent correct to tell Marshall to stay home when the Broncos had everything on the line."
NFL - 2010 opponents
Denver Broncos - Home: Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, Houston, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Jets
Away: Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Arizona, San Francisco, Baltimore
DB - Chiefs Postgame: Orton - Broncos TV
DB - Season Finishes On Sour Note - Chris Gentilviso
DB - Career Day Dampened - Gray Caldwell
DPP - Broncos live, die with the pass - Jeff Legwold
DPP - Charles charges ahead Coach Todd Haley's challenge to RB pays off - Mike Chambers
DPP - Defense, big plays unravel Broncos - Lindsay Jones
DPP - Briefing: Benching of Marshall came after Broncos' veterans requested accountability
"Denver outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil was held without a sack but finished with a franchise-record 17 sacks for the season. He became the first Bronco to lead the NFL in sacks."
DPP - Broncos play same song to end season - Jim Armstrong
DPP - No need for review: Broncos flat-out quit - Woody Paige
I quit reading this one halfway through.
CSG - Broncos won't advance to playoffs after loss to Chiefs - Frank Schwab
CSG - Broncos notes: Orton hopes to return to team - Frank Schwab
AP - Broncos Lose 44-24, Eliminated From Playoffs - Arnie Stapleton
Y! - Broncos may be worse off under McDaniels - Charles Robinson
NFL - Benching flap reveals still-frayed McDaniels-Marshall relationship - Jason La Canfora
AFC West News
KCS - Chiefs end season on a winning note with victory over Broncos - Kent Babb
KCS - Charles has a record-setting day for Chiefs - Adam Teicher
KCS - Chiefs can put their faith in Charles - Adam Teicher
KCS - Pioli says he saw growth from Haley this year - Adam Teicher
KCS - Chiefs linebacker Johnson makes a couple of big plays - Kent Babb
KCS - Chiefs buzz | KC gets fifth pick in the draft - Adam Teicher
SDUT - Plenty in reserves - Kevin Acee
SDUT - No denying this team is loaded - Kevin Acee
SDUT - Healthy Davis working his way back - Kevin Acee
SDUT - Bolts’ depth does in Skins - Chris Jenkins
SDUT - Norv can prep at his own pace - Tim Sullivan
SFC - Russell makes his case - to be cut in the offseason - Gwen Knapp
SFC - Loss No. 11 might preclude 11th-hour save for Cable - David White
SFC - No Pro Bowl, but Janikowski won't go unrewarded - David White
SFC - Raiders players say coach Cable should keep job - David White
NFL Results
NFL - Washington Redskins 20 at San Diego Chargers 23
NFL - Baltimore Ravens 21 at Oakland Raiders 13
NFL - Indianapolis Colts 7 at Buffalo Bills 30
NFL - New Orleans Saints 10 at Carolina Panthers 23
NFL - Jacksonville Jaguars 17 at Cleveland Browns 23
NFL - New England Patriots 27 at Houston Texans 34
NFL - New York Giants 7 at Minnesota Vikings 44
NFL - Atlanta Falcons 20 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10
NFL - San Francisco 49ers 28 at St. Louis Rams 6
NFL - Pittsburgh Steelers 30 at Miami Dolphins 24
NFL - Chicago Bears 37 at Detroit Lions 23
NFL - Philadelphia Eagles 0 at Dallas Cowboys 24
NFL - Green Bay Packers 33 at Arizona Cardinals 7
NFL - Tennessee Titans 17 at Seattle Seahawks 13
NFL - Cincinnati Bengals 0 at New York Jets 37
NFL News
WP - Redskins fire Zorn after 2 seasons
NFL - Patriots fear Welker’s injury is severe
NFL - Johnson reaches 2,000 yards, sets mark for yards from scrimmage
NFL - Texans excercise option to keep Schaub, give QB $10 million bonus
NFL - NFL looks to player safety with helmet study, possible rule changes
NFL - Goodell: Incentives possible for playoff teams who use starters
NFL Opinion
SF - The Mothership - Ted Bartlett
NYT - Initial Peek at A.F.C. Playoff Matchups - Judy Battista
NYT - Initial Peek at N.F.C. Playoff Matchups - Judy Battista
NFL - AFC Fear Factor: Chargers, not Colts, are scariest team - Vic Carucci
NFL - NFC Fear Factor: Cowboys are conference's most dangerous team - Steve Wyche
Y! - Colts equipped to shake off late losses - Jason Cole
Y! - NFC features classic collection of QBs - Jason Cole
SI - NFC looks wide open, more Snap Judgments - Don Banks
SI - Wes Welker's injury, 2009 NFL Playoff favorites, more Week 17 - Peter King
ESPN - John Clayton's Last Call
SN - Cowboys' physical message may have lasting effect - Vinnie Iyer
CBS - Cowboys most likely to represent NFC in Super Bowl - Pete Prisco
FOX - No late-season swoon for Cowboys - Alex Marvez
FH - No Knee Jerk, 'Boys Are Team to Beat - Kevin Blackistone
FH - Eagles Licking Wounds After Falling Hard - Nancy Gay
SN - Vikings re-establish momentum in time for playoffs - Dennis Dillon
FH - Let's Hear It for Rex in the City - Jay Mariotti
FH - Jets Roll Bengals, and Just Might Again - Dan Graziano
CBS - Bengals better stop Jets' Wildcat next week ... or else - Clark Judge
PFW - Ranking the defensive coordinators
FH - Redskins' Misery Will Continue Until Snyder Vanishes - David Whitley