For the second time in 18 days, the Broncos will play the Chiefs. Can Denver pull off the upset and snap their long-running losing streak to its AFC West rivals? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Live updates
Pregame updates
Inactives (1 p.m.): No surprises among the Broncos’ inactives today:
- DL Elijah Garcia
- DL Keondre Coburn
- OLB Thomas Incoom
- S JL Skinner
- C Alex Forsyth
A pair of DLs in Garcia and Coburn, recently claimed off waivers from Kansas City, plus three rookies who have mostly been inactive all year. Denver’s got WR Tre’Quan Smith up from the practice squad with Brandon Johnson (hamstring) being placed on IR yesterday. — Parker Gabriel
Happy Snow Day from Empower Field (12:14 p.m.): Every game here so far this season has been to beautiful weather, but winter arrived just in time for Round 2 against the Chiefs. The tarp just came of the field and the playing surface looks just fine. There’s not much wind, either, so chilly temperatures may be the only major impact on the field. One thing to monitor: Kansas City added QB Patrick Mahomes to their injury report with the flu. He’s expected to play. And Broncos fans wouldn’t be blamed for expecting a Michael Jordan-esque outing rather than Mahomes being negatively impacted by the illness. — Parker Gabriel
Scouting report (11:20 a.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Chiefs in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.
Game predictions
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Chiefs 28, Broncos 20
The streak has to end at some point, right? ….. Right? It would be interesting to see what happens if Denver goes into the bye week with back-to-back wins and gets designs of, hey, maybe the impossible is possible. Except Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones do care not for the interesting. No. 17 in a row feels imminent, and a Kansas City blowout would be less surprising than a Broncos win. Again.
Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Chiefs 24, Broncos 17
At some point, the Broncos will end their losing streak to the Chiefs. But that will not happen on Sunday. Denver will play with a ton of fire at home and might even convince some that it can pull off an upset. However, Mahomes just figures out ways to make the right play at the right time, so it’s hard to bet against him.
Mark Kiszla, columnist: Chiefs 30, Broncos 14
Why is Sean Payton never happy? It ain’t his dislike of sushi, pal. His football team is further away from competing with K.C. than Payton thought when he took the Broncos gig. With the trade deadline looming, let’s get the rebuild started.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Chiefs 27, Broncos 20
Sell, baby, sell! Russell Wilson’s stat line, head-to-head, in Orange & Blue vs. KC: 0-3, 188.3 passing yards per game, 20 points per loss. Patrick Mahomes’ line vs. Big Russ in Denver: 3-0, 328.7 yards and 26.7 points per victory. The streak will end. But not with this QB. Or this roster.
Broncos-Chiefs NFL Week 8: Must-reads
In Broncos vs. Chiefs rematch 17 days later, Denver would do well to re-create red zone defensive success
A low-scoring and ugly game partially obfuscated a reality in the Broncos’ Week 6 loss on a Thursday night to Kansas City earlier this month: For the most part, the Chiefs dominated on both sides of the ball.
Perhaps the biggest thing that went wrong for Andy Reid’s team: Kicker Harrison Butker and Kansas City’s field goal unit got far too much work. The Chiefs moved the ball up and down the field against Denver’s defense and compiled 389 yards, but turned five red zone trips into just one touchdown and four field goals.
If the Broncos are to pull off an upset Sunday at Empower Field, a similarly stout performance in that department might well be necessary, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.
Broncos coach Sean Payton preparing for chilly conditions vs. Chiefs
It’s looking like Broncos Country will need to break out the winter jackets.
According to the National Weather Service, Denver’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday afternoon is expected to be played at a high of 28 degrees.
There’s even a 70% chance of precipitation, with possible snow accumulation of one to three inches. While Broncos head coach Sean Payton believes advanced analytics has played a significant role in deciding whether to go for it on fourth down or attempt a two-point conversion, he thinks weather does too, Ryan McFadden reports. Read the full story.
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