Recreation Preview: Broncos, Chiefs renew rivalry in crucial 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 latest 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 probabilities to just about 70 p.c with a win over Kansas Metropolis in Week 11.
The Chiefs, in the meantime, are chasing the Broncos as they appear to maintain their nine-year streak alive as division champions. If Kansas Metropolis falls on Sunday, its division title probabilities would drop to single digits, in line with The Athletic’s playoff simulator.
So, whereas the Broncos have aspirations of enjoying in additional high-stakes video games because the season progresses, in addition they perceive the magnitude of Sunday’s divisional matchup.
“We have had a great week,” Head Coach Sean Payton mentioned Friday. “These guys are centered. They definitely perceive the importance of the sport. It is like I mentioned to them earlier than, ‘You are going to play in larger video games,’ however that is the following one.”
These are the questions that can decide if the Broncos can earn a crucial win in opposition to the Chiefs on Sunday at Empower Subject at Mile Excessive:
CAN THE BRONCOS MAKE MORE PLAYS IN A CLOSE GAME?
This one may come all the way 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 dwelling 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 objective. Three consecutive video games earlier than that, courting again to the 2021 season, had been all determined by one rating.
The Broncos’ resume by way of 10 video games reveals this crew needs to be comfy if that scenario performs out once more. After posting a 1-6 document 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 received an NFL document 17-consecutive one-score video games main into 2025.
“A 12 months in the past, we did not fare so properly in shut video games,” Payton mentioned. “We received 10 video games, however in one-score video games, we weren’t practically pretty much 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 we have now the fitting guys, we have now the fitting, 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 large 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 in opposition to the Eagles, Jets, Giants and Texans, Nix has elevated his recreation 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 unexpectedly he finds a technique to flip it on and do what we have now to do within the fourth quarter, or the second half, or each time we want it,” Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi mentioned. “No matter we have to win a recreation, he finds a method. He is resilient that method. I feel there’s numerous perception that we’ll discover a method no matter the way it begins.”
Lombardi additionally emphasised that does not imply the Broncos need to begin gradual, and Payton famous the significance of avoiding penalties and your complete operation discovering methods to enhance.
The protection, in fact, has carried out properly, 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 large stops in these comebacks, as properly.
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 in opposition to Patrick Mahomes and Kansas Metropolis.
The Chiefs’ offense has surged again in latest weeks, as Mahomes led the NFL in passing touchdowns and passing yards throughout a five-week span from Weeks 4-8. If Denver can strain Mahomes, although, it may lead to a special final result.
In video games during which Mahomes has been pressured at a fee decrease than 25 p.c this season, he’s 4-1 and has accomplished 71.8 p.c 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 share, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a 77.0 quarterback score.
Denver’s 42.9 strain fee this season, in the meantime, leads the NFL and is the best of the Subsequent Gen Stats period, which dates again to 2018.
Whereas the Broncos have been in a position to convey strain with simply 4 rushers, in addition they have the fifth-highest blitz fee within the league. And thru 9 video games, Mahomes’ 5.64 completion share 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 preserve him contained within the pocket.
“He is been the perfect for a very long time,” Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph mentioned. “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 may 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 recreation 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 crew’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.Okay. Dobbins.
“It is our league,” Payton mentioned. “You’ve got 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 recreation, and Denver should handle to gradual the proficient Rashee Rice with out the reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr. Rice has caught 13 passes for 173 yards and a landing over the previous two video games, and Payton mentioned 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 have the ability to depend on two skilled gamers in Dre Greenlaw and Justin Strnad. Greenlaw performed a season-high 62 p.c of the snaps in a Week 10 win over the Raiders as he recorded 5 tackles, a deal with for loss, a pressured fumble and a move defensed.
“It has been outstanding,” Payton mentioned of Greenlaw’s influence. “That goal-line stand every 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 crew.”
Payton mentioned Strnad, who has began 14 video games during the last two seasons, can also be “extraordinarily” precious to the crew.
Denver may even doubtless depend on working again RJ Harvey, as Payton mentioned the rookie will obtain extra alternatives. The younger participant, who has 4 complete touchdowns in his final three video games, mentioned he is set for the elevated workload.
“I am prepared,” Harvey mentioned Friday. “No matter Coach wants me to do, I am able to go on the sphere. I had an awesome week of observe. [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 crew will pair the jerseys with Summit White pants and socks.
Mims was a full participant in observe all week, and the absence of a recreation standing signifies he might be obtainable to play.
How one can watch, take heed to and dwell stream the Broncos’ Week 11 dwelling matchup in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025.
Denver Broncos gamers visited sufferers at Kids’s Hospital Colorado. Kai was in a position to interview Jordan Jackson and Frank Crum as a Child Correspondent, a program that gives Kids’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 crew that is enjoying rather well proper now,” Head Coach Sean Payton mentioned. “You may see that. So, we’ll need to be on level.”
Denver has added a former offensive contributor again to its roster.
Exterior linebacker Jonathon Cooper (thumb), extensive receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (concussion) and linebacker Garret Wallow (hamstring) remained full individuals.
“Clearly, the expertise that he has and the motion expertise and the energy is actually, actually spectacular,” deal with Mike McGlinchey mentioned. “He is an awesome employee. … He is gotten higher and higher each week.”
Cornerback Pat Surtain II (pectoral) and working again J.Okay. Dobbins (foot) had been among the many Broncos who didn’t observe on Wednesday.
A Denver defender has taken a step towards a return to recreation motion.
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