Go Chiefs!

And take the Colts and the Chargers down with you.

The Broncos’ worst enemy can become their best friend Sunday and Dec. 14.

And the Broncos could tackle the Patriots at Mile High for the AFC Championship as they did in the Super Bowl 50 season.

As luck and the NFL would have it.

All the Bye-Week Broncos have to do is win five of their six remaining games to finish with 14 regular-season victories for the second time in franchise history. The first was 1998. The last time the Broncos had a 9-2 record was 2015 when they last won the division, then defeated Belichick, Brady and the Pats for the conference title and prevailed in their last Super Bowl.

But, what now?

The Broncos are tied with the equally shocking Patriots in the AFC pursuit to the No. 1 seed. Denver would be alone at the pinnacle if New England folds like an origami flower in Cincinnati and 8-2 Indianapolis is barbecued in Kansas City.

With supposedly the ninth easiest schedule left, the Broncos will play the crestfallen Commanders (3-8) and the absurd Raiders (2-8) on the road, then the Packers and the Jaguars, both genuine playoff contestants, at home.

I’m not doubting the Jagwads this year.

Four more consecutive triumphs for a 13-2 record would render the last two games at K.C. and home vs. the Chargers meaningless in the division chase. Each of the two AFC West adversaries can only reach 12-5 at best. However, if the Broncos drop a pair before then, Lord have mercy. The Broncos don’t want to meet the Chargers in a finale for anything. They are 6-8 in such closers.

The Chargers still have a trip to Kansas City before Denver.

Besides, the Broncos’ serious objective is clinching the conference’s first seed and having another bye and two games at the congenial confines of altitude and attitude.

Because the Colts edged the Broncos they own the advantage in case of identical records.

So, Colorado must – ye gads – cheer for the Chiefs and the Bengals without Burrow.

Indianapolis faces the fourth most difficult schedule with the Chiefs, then six games against teams with winning records.

The Patriots are approaching the second-simplest slate with Cincy, both New Jersey teams and the Dolphins. They most likely will bow to Buffalo and Baltimore and end up 12-4.

Thirteen is the lucky number for the Broncos.

The franchise has achieved 13 victories in five 16-game seasons – 1984 with coach Dan Reeves and quarterback John Elway, 1996 with Mike Shanahan and Elway, 2005 with Shanahan and Jake Plummer, 2012 and 2013 with John Fox and Peyton Manning. The ’98 Broncos were 14-2 with Mastermind & The Duke. However, just the ’13 13-3 team made the Super Bowl and was blown up, and out, by the Seahawks.

In order for these Broncos to get to a 17-game, 13-4 mark, they have to start stronger and finish faster. Sean Payton can’t wait for the hope-and-happen fourth quarter. That strategy lost at the conclusions by one and three points in Los Angeles and Indianapolis prior to the Broncos’ 8 str8 streak that included two big-lead triumphs against the Bengals and the Cowboys, but six games decided by 4, 2, 1 and three straight 3-point victories (a total difference of 16 points).

The bye should be critical for the Broncos’ recovering players. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II (pectoral) and linebackers Alex Singleton (cancer surgery) and Jonah Elliss (hamstring), and tight end Nate Adkins (knee) could return for the game against the Commanders, whose quarterback Jayden Daniels hasn’t healed from his elbow injury and probably still won’t play. Washington, which reached the NFC Championship last season, would have been the Broncos’ toughest non-conference opponent, but has struggled without the second drafted QB in 2004. Bo Nix was the sixth quarterback selected. He has played against only one of the others – Michael Penix Jr., who appeared briefly against the Broncos last season.

Nix can become the fourth Broncos quarterback to start a Super Bowl. Other than the obvious two, Craig Morton was the first. And Payton could become the sixth Broncos coach in a Super Bowl. Red Miller was the first and Gary Kubiak the last.

But, first, go Chiefs … for now.