Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is facing backlash after the Cincinnati Bengals were knocked out of playoff contention following the defending champions’ scoreless defeat to the Denver Broncos.

The Chiefs rested their key players for Sunday’s visit to Denver, with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and more given the game off. The Dolphins and Bengals were in the hunt for a playoff birth, but they needed Kansas City to defeat the Broncos.

However, the Chiefs fell to a lifeless 38-0 scoreless defeat, meaning Kansas City will now avoid the Bengals’ high-scoring offense on the AFC side of the playoff bracket while also enjoying its bye in the wild-card round. Reid, whose aim was to keep his squad fit and healthy in their bid to win a third consecutive Super Bowl, is now facing backlash for not fielding a strong team to at least fight against the Broncos.

The defeat was so one-sided that CBS pulled the game from their national broadcast. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III has suggested that Reid tanked the game to avoid a potential matchup with the high-scoring Bengals, lead by Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase.

“Chiefs did everything they could to make sure the Bengals didn’t make the Playoffs. MY GAWD,” he said on X. One fan even accused Reid’s decision of manipulating the AFC playoff picture. “Andy Reid needs fined or fired immediately!” they fumed.

“What we witnessed in this game is illegal in sports. Taking a dive and trying to manipulate the entire playoff scenario in their favor. KC is disgusting.”

However, the Bengals’ early struggles, particularly in Sept., are no fault of the Chiefs. Cincinnati lost eight of their first 12 NFL games this season before winning their remaining five in a row to give themselves a chance at making the playoffs.

The Bengals missed out on the playoffs after the Chiefs were shutout by the Broncos© Getty

“For anyone out there complaining about the @Bengals not making the playoffs because the @Chiefs aren’t playing anyone in week 18 tell Cincinnati September matters too: *2024 0-3 then 1-5, *2023 0-2 then 1-3, *2022 0-2 then 2-3. All the games count the same amount. Start better,” another fan pointed out.

For the Chiefs, they’ve been plagued with injuries in 2024 and still managed a 15-2 regular season record. Patrick Mahomes flirted with a spell on the sidelines following a knock, while Hollywood Brown missed most of the season, as did running back Isiah Pacheco.

Defensive star Chris Jones was also dealing with a calf injury in the final few weeks of the regular season. “They were able to get some rest, which I thought was important. I’m not recommending that you do that every year so, but down the road, I think we’ll be okay from it because of the rest that we gained here so, and that we also have the bye week coming up where, you know, there’s a chance that guys get a day or two off,” declared Reid.