Five things to know about Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 18 opponent: Denver Broncos
For Chiefs fans, this weekend’s plans are set.
Because the Chiefs’ game at Denver was flexed to Saturday, fans will be watching their team play that day.
Whether the Chiefs win or lose, their playoff seeding won’t be known until Sunday, depending on other games. So fans also will need to watch the NFL that day, right?
Each week, I take an early look at the Chiefs’ next opponent, and here are five things to know about the Broncos before Saturday’s game at Empower Field at Mile High. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. Central, and the game will air on KMBC (Ch. 9).
1. Nuts and bolts
The Broncos (7-9) were eliminated from playoff contention after losing 34-13 to the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. Denver has lost four of its previous five games.
The Chiefs lead the all-time series 68-55 and have won the last 12 meetings between the AFC West rivals. That includes a 22-9 victory at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 5.
Denver is averaging 19.4 points per game, which ranks 23rd in the NFL, while allowing 18.4 points per game, which is the third lowest.
The Broncos are tied for 13th in the NFL in turnover margin (plus-2). They have 19 takeaways and 17 giveaways. The latter is tied for the sixth-fewest in the NFL this season.
2. Denver’s starting QB is...
Teddy Bridgewater hasn’t played since suffering a concussion against the Bengals on Dec. 19, which gave former Mizzou/Lee’s Summit High School quarterback Drew Lock his first extended playing time this season.
Lock has completed 63.2% of his passes for 625 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He briefly left Sunday’s game because of a shoulder injury, and told the Broncos website he wasn’t sure if it would keep him out of the season finale.
“We’ll see,” Lock said. “It’s pretty numb right now. We’ll find out.”
Broncos coach Vic Fangio said Monday that Bridgewater is still in concussion protocol, “so it’ll be Drew going forward.”
Brett Rypien threw two incompletions when Lock was forced out of the game. Will Rypien play if Lock isn’t healthy?
No matter who is at quarterback, Fangio has been frustrated by the Denver offense.
“We can’t seem to find a rhythm and a consistency in our offense to keep drives sustained, make first downs and eventually get touchdowns,” Fangio said Sunday.
About facing the Chiefs, Fangio added: “We’ve still got another game to play and we’re going to get ready, hopefully have a normal week of practice and put our best foot forward next week and compete and try to win that game.”
3. A normal week?
That comment about a normal week may seem odd, but the Broncos called up 11 players from the practice squad as replacements for players out Sunday because of COVID restrictions.
Among those who missed Sunday’s game because of COVID: linebacker Bradley Chubb and receiver Jerry Jeudy.
The Broncos also have 10 players on injured reserve. Left guard Dalton Risner was injured Sunday and Fangio wasn’t given a prognosis on Risner’s availability Saturday.
4. The offense
Denver is 18th in total offense and ranked 14th in rushing (114.6 yards per game). Javonte Williams leads the Broncos with 857 yards rushing, while Melvin Gordon has run for 808 yards. Both players have carried the ball exactly 191 times.
The Broncos’ passing attack is 19th in the NFL (208.9 yards per game), and its quarterbacks have a combined 92.5 rating, which ranks 15th.
In the red zone, Denver has scored a touchdown 56% of the time, which is 22nd in the NFL. The Broncos are averaging 1.91 points per drive, which is 20th in the league.
5. The defense
Denver is forcing quarterbacks to rush throws on 12% of drop backs, which is the fourth-highest rate in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference. Denver’s blitz rate in the ninth-highest in the league (25.8% of snaps).
Opposing quarterbacks have a collective 82.4 rating, which is the seventh-lowest among NFL teams.
Defensive end Dre’Mont Jones leads Denver with 5 1/2 sacks, while Malik Reed and Shelby Harris each have five. Justin Simmons has a team-high five interceptions.
This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 10:04 AM.
