NFL Preview: Denver Broncos host Kansas City Chiefs in AFC West matchup
The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos are at opposite ends of the AFC West Division and will meet each other at Invesco Field in Denver on Sunday 14 November.
Previous meetings and recent games
The Denver Broncos won their first six games of the season last year, and seemed certain to make the playoffs before losing eight of their last 10 games. It was a 44-24 loss at home to the Kansas Chiefs
in the last week of the season that finally put the nail in the Bronco's coffin as they spiralled out of the play-off race. For the Chiefs, that upset of the Broncos was one of only four wins on the season as they finished last in the Division.
This season the roles are completely reversed and it was the Kansas City Chiefs who got out to a quick start. They haven't endured the kind of slide that the Broncos went through last year but they are
coming off a tough loss to the Oakland Raiders last Sunday and can feel both the Raiders and the San Diego Chargers creeping up behind them.
The Denver Broncos are currently on pace to only win four games this year. They are coming off their bye week, but have previously lost four games in a row. Their last game was two Sundays ago when they
were beaten 24-16 by the lowly San Francisco 49ers.
How they match up
This is a game which pits a high-flying aerial attack against a hard-nosed run game.
Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton leads the NFL's third most effective pass offence. Orton is one of three quarterbacks at the moment (Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers being the others) who are chasing Dan
Marino's single-season record of 5084 yards. Orton fell off the pace a little when he was held to under 200 yards three weeks ago against the Oakland Raiders.
The Chiefs play a completely different style of football from their opponents, and, unlike the Broncos, it has translated into wins. Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles lead the way along the ground with the
league's best run game.
The difference on offence is that where the Broncos have virtually no ground game to speak of, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel is not on pace to break any records, but has done a decent job throwing the
football.
The Chiefs also boast the better of the two defences, but they have been vulnerable at times trying to defend the pass.
What to expect
The Chiefs will be looking to stamp their claim on first place in the division while the Denver Broncos are at a point where they are just looking to survive. With teams likely needing as many as 10 wins
in order to make the play-offs in the AFC this season, a loss for the Broncos could effectively end their season.
With the Chargers and Raiders both enjoying winning streaks and both on their bye week, this is the moment for the Chiefs to take advantage and pull ahead in the standings.
The Chiefs were great when they were playing with the house's money and no one was expecting them to win, but now they have pressure bearing down on them and they have little idea of how to cope.
Prediction:
Broncos win 38-19.
Tags: