Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos: Live updates, analysis from AFC West clash
The Denver Broncos have a better record than the Kansas City Chiefs. They enter Sunday a half-game back of the AFC’s No. 1 seed — and with home field in this important clash.
Yet the Chiefs are the betting favorites in this AFC West matchup, and most national experts are siding with Kansas City to reassert itself in the division race.
So whether it’s the Broncos winning and all but slamming the door on KC’s chances of a 10th straight AFC West title — or the Chiefs pulling within one loss of the Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers in the division race — we should learn a lot from this game.
Let’s talk about it. Today’s 3:25 p.m. kickoff awaits — here’s how to watch and listen.
KC Chiefs at Denver Broncos: Stats, score updates and commentary
Follow updates and commentary from our KC Star team, including Chiefs beat reporters Pete Sweeney and Blair Kerkhoff and columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell, live at Empower Field at Mile High.
You can also find stats, scores and play-by-play below:
Three storylines for Chiefs-Broncos
1. The AFC West playoff race
The Broncos are 8-2. The Chiefs are 5-4. It doesn’t matter how they’ve done it: KC’s point differential (+76) is actually higher than both the Broncos (+62) and Chargers (7-3, +37). But any AFC West hopes for the Chiefs effectively end with a loss Sunday:
The Broncos could finish the year 3-3 and only have five losses. The Chiefs, with a loss, would already be 5-5.
So that has made Sunday’s game a high-stakes matchup, but it could be a blessing in disguise for KC. The Chiefs play this crucial road game with a rest advantage — coming off a bye while the Broncos played a Thursday night game against the Raiders a week ago.
2. KC’s offensive line — and Josh Simmons’ potential return
Will Josh Simmons start Sunday? Or, the better question, should Josh Simmons start Sunday? We won’t have the first answer until game time, and the second one for a few hours after. But Kansas City is undoubtedly happy to have its first-round pick at left tackle back in the building.
Simmons has missed a significant amount of time dealing with what Andy Reid termed a family matter. Jaylon Moore held up well in Simmons’ absence until the last game against the Bills.
So who gets the start? And how will the line look in a big-time matchup against one of the best pass rushers in the NFL in Nik Bonitto? We’ll find out soon.
3. Are the Chiefs primed for a second-half charge?
Look, it hasn’t been perfect to this point. Xavier Worthy may be nursing his shoulder injury the rest of the year. Simmons, as mentioned, has been away from the team. Isiah Pacheco is out again. Kansas City has dug itself a hole.
But most of the weapons are here, including Rashee Rice, who served a lengthy suspension to begin the season. Following a Week 10 bye, the Chiefs are as reasonably healthy and available as anyone in the NFL. And the NFL’s best quarterback is still leading the way.
If they’re going to make a second-half charge, that should start Sunday against the Broncos.
