Sport Preview: Broncos, Chiefs renew rivalry in essential AFC West battle – Denver Broncos

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Broncos Nation has had this one circled.
The Broncos’ rivalry with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs might be renewed on Sunday, and the stakes are totally different than they have been in current reminiscence.
Denver (8-2) hasn’t led the AFC West this late within the season since 2015, and the Broncos will look to push their division possibilities to almost 70 % with a win over Kansas Metropolis in Week 11.
The Chiefs, in the meantime, are chasing the Broncos as they give the impression of being to maintain their nine-year streak alive as division champions. If Kansas Metropolis falls on Sunday, its division title possibilities would drop to single digits, in keeping with The Athletic’s playoff simulator.
So, whereas the Broncos have aspirations of enjoying in additional high-stakes video games because the season progresses, additionally they perceive the magnitude of Sunday’s divisional matchup.
“We have had a very good week,” Head Coach Sean Payton stated Friday. “These guys are targeted. They actually perceive the importance of the sport. It is like I stated to them earlier than, ‘You are going to play in greater video games,’ however that is the following one.”
These are the questions that can decide if the Broncos can earn a essential win towards the Chiefs on Sunday at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive:
CAN THE BRONCOS MAKE MORE PLAYS IN A CLOSE GAME?
This one may come right down to the wire.
Excluding the Broncos’ 38-0 win over the Chiefs’ reserves to clinch a playoff berth within the 2024 season finale, the Broncos and Chiefs have performed a slew of shut video games in recent times.
The opposite assembly in 2024 was determined by two factors by way of a heartbreaking last-second field-goal block. Denver’s streak-snapping house win in 2023 ended up as a 15-point margin, however the Broncos led by simply 5 factors coming into the fourth quarter. In a “Thursday Evening Soccer” matchup earlier that season, Denver lower the result in one-possession within the fourth quarter earlier than the Chiefs iced the sport with a area purpose. Three consecutive video games earlier than that, relationship again to the 2021 season, had been all determined by one rating.
The Broncos’ resume via 10 video games reveals this workforce needs to be snug if that scenario performs out once more. After posting a 1-6 report in one-score video games in 2024, the Broncos have already recorded a 6-2 mark in one-possession video games this season. Kansas Metropolis, in the meantime, is 0-4 in such video games after they went 11-0 in 2024 and gained an NFL report 17-consecutive one-score video games main into 2025.
“A yr in the past, we did not fare so nicely in shut video games,” Payton stated. “We gained 10 video games, however in one-score video games, we weren’t practically nearly as good, and our opponent this weekend was unbelievable in one-score video games. I am glad that script has flipped, as a result of we have performed in some shut video games. … I feel now we have the correct guys, now we have the correct, I might say, grit, psychological toughness — all these issues I feel that it takes to win, [and] achieve success.”
One of many causes for the Broncos’ late success? Quarterback Bo Nix has been at his greatest in massive moments. Nix ranks both first or tied for first in complete touchdowns, complete first downs, fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives in fourth quarters this season — and he is second in complete yards. In matchups towards the Eagles, Jets, Giants and Texans, Nix has elevated his sport late and made performs when it mattered.
“I feel we have seen from Bo, there have been video games the place we have struggled offensively early after which rapidly he finds a method to flip it on and do what now we have to do within the fourth quarter, or the second half, or each time we’d like it,” Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi stated. “No matter we have to win a sport, he finds a manner. He is resilient that manner. I feel there’s quite a lot of perception that we’ll discover a manner no matter the way it begins.”
Lombardi additionally emphasised that does not imply the Broncos need to begin sluggish, and Payton famous the significance of avoiding penalties and the whole operation discovering methods to enhance.
The protection, in fact, has carried out nicely, too. Denver’s plus-60 level differential and plus-10 sack differential are first and tied for first, respectively, and the unit got here up with massive stops in these comebacks, as nicely.
Whether or not on offense, protection or particular groups, Denver might have to make a play in crunch time to assist earn a win. If the Broncos can proceed their earlier fourth-quarter magic, it may spur them to a victory over the Chiefs.
CAN DENVER’S PASS RUSH GET HOME?
The Broncos’ move rush is on tempo for a historic season — and it’ll have to be at its greatest towards Patrick Mahomes and Kansas Metropolis.
The Chiefs’ offense has surged again in current weeks, as Mahomes led the NFL in passing touchdowns and passing yards throughout a five-week span from Weeks 4-8. If Denver can stress Mahomes, although, it may end in a special consequence.
In video games by which Mahomes has been pressured at a fee decrease than 25 % this season, he’s 4-1 and has accomplished 71.8 % of his passes for 14 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 114.8 quarterback score. In video games when he is been pressured at a better fee, he is 1-3 with a 55.4 completion proportion, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a 77.0 quarterback score.
Denver’s 42.9 stress fee this season, in the meantime, leads the NFL and is the very best of the Subsequent Gen Stats period, which dates again to 2018.
Whereas the Broncos have been in a position to deliver stress with simply 4 rushers, additionally they have the fifth-highest blitz fee within the league. And thru 9 video games, Mahomes’ 5.64 completion proportion and 83.8 passer score vs. the blitz rank as profession lows for Mahomes.
As Broncos followers have discovered throughout his profession, although, Mahomes has a knack for improvisation. He leads the NFL with 513 complete yards on scrambles, posting 229 move yards and 284 rush yards whereas on the transfer.
Whereas getting after Mahomes, the Broncos might want to additionally hold him contained within the pocket.
“He is been the very best for a very long time,” Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph stated. “He is a winner. The performs he could make off schedule, that makes it powerful. They’re within the huddle and so they have a play referred to as, and you’ll defend that play completely and he can clearly purchase time within the second act. That is the place he makes his explosive performs.”
The Broncos’ protection has held Mahomes in examine within the three conferences since Joseph’s return to Denver, because the Chiefs have averaged fewer than 15 factors per sport in these conferences. And whereas Joseph downplayed the significance of that stat, one other related efficiency would definitely profit the Broncos’ effort.
Whether or not within the crimson zone — the place Denver’s top-ranked unit will face the Chiefs’ third-ranked group — or elsewhere, the Broncos may take an enormous step towards a win if the workforce’s move rush could make Mahomes uncomfortable.
HOW WILL THE BRONCOS RESPOND TO ADVERSITY?
The subsequent-man-up mentality might be on show Sunday.
Denver dominated out 5 gamers for the Week 11 matchup, together with starters Pat Surtain II, Alex Singleton and J.Ok. Dobbins.
“It is our league,” Payton stated. “You have heard me say that, and we have performed groups earlier within the season which were on this place. … It must be the following man up.”
Surtain will miss his third consecutive sport, and Denver should handle to sluggish the gifted Rashee Rice with out the reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months. Rice has caught 13 passes for 173 yards and a landing over the previous two video games, and Payton stated Rice’s return “has actually helped” the Chiefs’ offense. The Broncos have held their final two opponents in examine with out Surtain, however Sunday will signify a special kind of problem.
At linebacker, the Broncos ought to doubtless be capable to depend on two skilled gamers in Dre Greenlaw and Justin Strnad. Greenlaw performed a season-high 62 % of the snaps in a Week 10 win over the Raiders as he recorded 5 tackles, a sort out for loss, a compelled fumble and a move defensed.
“It has been exceptional,” Payton stated of Greenlaw’s influence. “That goal-line stand per week or two in the past [was impressive]. He is a bodily, bodily tackler, and he has that ‘it.’ I am glad he is on our workforce.”
Payton stated Strnad, who has began 14 video games over the past two seasons, can be “extraordinarily” invaluable to the workforce.
Denver will even doubtless depend on operating again RJ Harvey, as Payton stated the rookie will obtain extra alternatives. The younger participant, who has 4 complete touchdowns in his final three video games, stated he is set for the elevated workload.
“I am prepared,” Harvey stated Friday. “No matter Coach wants me to do, I am able to go on the sector. I had a fantastic week of apply. [I’m] simply able to go.”
Because the Broncos look to earn a win over the Chiefs, a number of gamers stepping up within the face of adversity might be key.
Denver will put on its Sundown Orange jerseys for the primary time since Week 7, and the workforce will pair the jerseys with Summit White pants and socks.
Mims was a full participant in apply all week, and the absence of a sport standing signifies he might be out there to play.
Tips on how to watch, hearken to and reside stream the Broncos’ Week 11 house matchup towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025.
Denver Broncos gamers visited sufferers at Youngsters’s Hospital Colorado. Kai was in a position to interview Jordan Jackson and Frank Crum as a Child Correspondent, a program that gives Youngsters’s Colorado sufferers with the chance to interview a Denver Broncos participant.
The published will happen close to Lot B on the south facet of the stadium, and followers are inspired to attend this system that runs from 10-11 a.m. MT.
“That is the following one, and this can be a workforce that is enjoying rather well proper now,” Head Coach Sean Payton stated. “You’ll be able to see that. So, we will need to be on level.”
Denver has added a former offensive contributor again to its roster.
Outdoors linebacker Jonathon Cooper (thumb), vast receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (concussion) and linebacker Garret Wallow (hamstring) remained full contributors.
“Clearly, the expertise that he has and the motion abilities and the power is actually, actually spectacular,” sort out Mike McGlinchey stated. “He is a fantastic employee. … He is gotten higher and higher each week.”
Cornerback Pat Surtain II (pectoral) and operating again J.Ok. Dobbins (foot) had been among the many Broncos who didn’t apply on Wednesday.
A Denver defender has taken a step towards a return to sport motion.
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