NFL 2010 Week 13: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs preview
Denver Broncos, who are on a two game losing streak, will be on the road for a rematch against the rival Kansas City Chiefs on 5 December.
On the other side, the Kansas City Chiefs come into Week 13 of the NFL season riding a two game winning streak and are currently in sole possession of the first place in the American Football Conference (AFC) west division.
The last time these two teams met on 14 November in Denver, where the low point of the Chiefs’ otherwise strong season occurred. Denver won by a score of 49-29. The Kansas City fell behind 35-0, which is the largest first half deficit in team history.
Chiefs return home with a record of 7-4 while Broncos travel to Kansas City with a mark of 3-8 on the season. Chiefs sit in first place in the AFC West just 1 game ahead of the surging San Diego Chargers. The AFC West-leading Chiefs look to avenge that embarrassing
defeat and eliminate the Broncos from postseason contention when they meet on 5 December at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs hope that they just caught the Broncos at the wrong time and that this weekend they will be able to right the ship against a team that will be looking to play the role of spoiler for the Chiefs' playoffs hopes.
Chiefs average around 174 yards on the ground, which is the league's best rushing attack and is 26 yards more than Miami Dolphins (the second best rushing team). Broncos, who stop the rub well, have been ranked 30th in the league.
After beating Arizona Cardinals 31-13 on November 21, Kansas City came off an impressive 42-24 victory at Seattle Seahawks last week. The Chiefs put up a season best 503 yards on the Seahawks defense in a hostile stadium.
Matt Cassel (Chiefs’ quarterback) and Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs’ wide receiver) have been playing very well this season. Cassel has recorded 895 yards, ten scores and just one turnover in his last three games. Most of those yards and touchdowns went to wide receiver
Dwayne Bowe, who is enjoying Pro Bowl caliber season with 885 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Broncos’ corner back Andre Goodman and Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins will be sidelined for this game. If the Kansas City offense is able to launch a strong aerial attack against cracked Broncos secondary then Kansas City will be hard to stop with their dominant
running game.
However, the Denver offence is amongst the best units in the NFL, averaging 367 total yards a game to go along with 288 pass yards, which place them at 8th and 4th in the league, respectively.
Kansas City did have some problems against Broncos QB Kyle Orton when the two teams met in Denver in Week 10. Kyle Orton threw for 296 yards and a career-best 4 touchdown passes against the Chiefs. Kyle Orton (the NFL leader with 3,370 passing yards) with
8 touchdowns and one interception while Matt Cassel had 12 touchdowns (an NFL-best) to one pick at the end of November.
One of the problems for the pass happy Broncos is the lack of a running game to go along with their passing game. Knowshon “No Show” Moreno, who has rushed for over 100 yards total this season, with his 472 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, has been hampered
by injuries. It seems to cost the broncos big time.
Kansas City can drop more guys into coverage as Broncos are lacking a rushing attack. It will force Denver to defeat the Chiefs with their ground game. Kansas City will also be very fired up to play against the Broncos that took them to the woodshed in their
last matchup.
Overall, it is believed that Broncos will put up a battle with Orton and their passing game, but in the end Kansas City will be just too much for Denver.
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