To think, the Kansas City Chiefs got Melvin Ingram in a trade… for a sixth round pick.

In a week where the Chiefs’ defense was heavily criticized for their Week 17 effort against Cincinnati, they stepped up big time, and with a 28-24 victory over Denver, they can’t finish any lower than the second seed in the AFC.

With the Broncos ahead 21-20 and facing second-and-2 on the Chiefs’ 9-yard line, Ingram darted into the backfield and hit running back (and former Chargers teammate) Melvin Gordon immediately after the handoff from Drew Lock. Ingram’s hit knocked the ball loose and linebacker Nick Bolton picked it up and returned it 86 yards for a touchdown.

It essentially sealed the deal for Denver. It was just the third fumble of the year for Gordon, but it was a costly one. With Broncos coach Vic Fangio on the hot seat all season, the fumble, and subsequent loss, might finally have sealed his fate.

It was Ingram’s first forded fumble of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Patrick Mahomes finished the game 27-of-44 passing for 270 yards with a pair of touchdowns. He also was the Chiefs’ leading rusher with 54 yards on nine carries.

Kansas City finished with 28 first downs and was 8-of-14 on third down.

After a 1-4 start, all the Chiefs need is a Titans loss to the Texans and the top AFC seed is theirs.