Recent truths in Chiefs-Broncos series: Denver keeps it close, but KC wins these games
Strange things happened when the Chiefs met the Denver Broncos last season.
The Chiefs won the Super Bowl, and Denver finished last in the AFC West. But the competitiveness of the games belied the disparity.
In their first meeting, the Chiefs jumped to a 27-0 lead, only to have the Broncos storm back. Denver linebacker Josey Jewell, who has two career interceptions over 66 games in six seasons, got both of them in that game. The Chiefs won 34-28 but had to sweat out a game in which they had full control.
Three weeks later in Kansas City, the Chiefs, a 12 1/2-point favorite, trailed entering the fourth quarter. The Chiefs survived 27-24.
All factors and trends favor the Chiefs (4-1) in this one, including Kansas City’s 15-game winning streak in the series. But the Broncos (1-4) often find a way to keep this matchup close. The margin in four of the past six games has been six or fewer points.
Here are five things to watch on Thursday night:
Player to watch: Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon
It’s been a quiet start to the season for McKinnon, a third-down specialist who is the Chiefs’ best blocker among their running backs. But something about the Broncos brings out the best in him. He’s had two receiving touchdowns three times in his career. One of those games occurred earlier this season against the Chicago Bears. The other two were against the Broncos last season.
Player to watch: Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy loves to play against the Chiefs. He’s had one multiple touchdown game in his career, and that was the three-score game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead last season. That touchdown total and his 24 career receptions are the most Jeudy has against any team.
Chiefs punt coverage. Fool me once ...
The good news for the Chiefs is that return specialist Montrell Washington, who played for the Broncos last season, looks like an excellent find. He averages 10.2 yards per punt return.
Last week at Minnesota, the Chiefs returned a kickoff for the first time this year, and Washington got the ball to the 28. The bad news? For the second time this season, the Chiefs were burned by a fake punt.
On a snap to the upback, the Vikings picked up a first down with a 15-yard gain on fourth-and-2.
“Sooner or later, we have to stop these things,” Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said.
Broncos’ many happy returns
The reason Washington became available to the Chiefs is because Denver drafted wide receiver Marvin Mims from Oklahoma, and he’s become a premier return specialist.
Mims is averaging 23..5 yards per punt return and his 35.2 average on kickoff returns includes one for a touchdown. But he fumbled a punt early in last week’s loss to the New York Jets and was involved in a botched reverse exchange that resulted in a fumble.
“I’m sure it’s something that weighs on him, and yet, I don’t want to take the stinger or aggressiveness away from him,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of the fumbled punt.
Keeping Russell Wilson on simmer
The Chiefs recorded three sacks of the Vikings’ Kirk Cousins last week, including a final-play takedown by Mike Danna and Chris Jones’ fourth sack in four games.
“It would be OK if Chris started having multiple-sack games,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said.
Containing Broncos QB Russell Wilson, who is off to a solid start this season, with 11 touchdown passes and two interceptions, will be a primary focus.
“Russ has been cookin’,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. “He’s been thrown under the bus because of their record, but we have a challenge in front of us.”
This story was originally published October 11, 2023 at 9:59 AM.