Kansas City, Mo. ? As three-team parlays go, this would be a Las Vegas long shot.

Kansas City (9-6) must beat the 11-4 AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals; San Diego (9-6) must lose to 12-3 Denver even though the AFC West champion Broncos will be resting several starters; and the lowly 5-10 Detroit Lions will have to go into Pittsburgh and somehow find a way to upset the streaking Steelers (10-5).

If all that happens, the Chiefs will be in the playoffs for the second time in three years, and Dick Vermeil will add at least one more game to a long coaching career.

Vermeil’s message to his team Wednesday, its first day back at practice, was not to worry about all the loose ends.

“We’re realistic,” Vermeil said. “But I’m not going to say we’re not going to be (in the playoffs). The only thing I’m going to do is try to control the things that we have control of. If we’d controlled it better earlier, we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in.”

Kansas City running back Larry Johnson celebrates a 23-yard run Saturday against San Diego. Johnson and the Chiefs face long odds this weekend to make the playoffs - Denver must beat San Diego, and lowly Detroit must beat Pittsburgh. Oh, and K.C. has to beat Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Bengals can create an opportunity to improve their position from No. 4 seed to No. 3 in the AFC, but may be short-handed if several key players, including quarterback Carson Palmer, are held out to nurse injuries.

The Chiefs’ bodies are mostly healthy. It’s their psyches that could need assistance. In what would be the worst kind of downer, they might even take the field Sunday knowing their fate already is sealed.

If San Diego beats the Broncos on Saturday, then there is no way the Chiefs can slip past the Steelers in a tiebreaker for the final wild-card slot.

“I think if that happened, we would respond pretty well,” fullback Tony Richardson said. “If we find out our fate on Saturday, that will be unfortunate. But there’s enough character guys in here with a lot of pride who would still want to get 10 wins.”

The biggest obstacle the Bengals may have to overcome will be running back Larry Johnson, who had 131 tough yards in the slippery mud against the Chargers last week and was named AFC offensive player of the week. It’s the second time Johnson has won the award during his amazing eight-week run of 100-yard rushing games.

Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil reacts to a referee's call during the second quarter against San Diego. Vermeil, shown Saturday in Kansas City, Mo., acknowledges the Chiefs have slim playoff hopes.

Already named to his first Pro Bowl, Johnson has rushed for 1,549 yards, leading the AFC and ranking third in the NFL. He needs just 67 more yards to break the Chiefs record of 1,615 yards established by Priest Holmes in 2002.

Johnson declined to speak with the Kansas City media Wednesday, but went to special lengths to extend his thanks to his teammates.

“Today, he acknowledged his appreciation for the offensive linemen and fullback and tight ends by presenting them all with a beautiful watch in appreciation, which was a very meaningful thing for the offensive linemen, tight end and blocking fullback,” Vermeil said.

“It’s more than just a gesture. It’s a token of respect and appreciation.”

Vermeil said Johnson made his presentation after practice.