Chiefs at Broncos: Game preview, odds, prediction
By Brad Weiss
In a huge AFC West matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs will head to Denver to take on the Broncos on Sunday Night Football.
If the season ended today, three AFC West teams would be in the playoffs. On Sunday night, two of those teams will do battle at Sports Authority Field, as the Kansas City Chiefs will hit the road to take on the Denver Broncos. It is the first of two matchups between the two teams this season and is certain to be a good one. The game was flexed to Sunday night due to the importance it will play not only on the playoff picture, but also in the division.
Both teams are looking up at the Oakland Raiders, who are currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC at 8-2. The Chiefs are coming off a bad home loss to the Buccanners last week, in a game that saw their offense sputter from the outset. Still, they have one of the more balanced teams in all of football, and this game is going to be very telling as to whether or not they can seriously challenge for a spot in the AFC Championship Game.
Trevor Siemian has actually played better as of late, and is starting to gel with wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. The issue for the team has been the play of the running backs, who have not done much since C.J. Anderson hit the shelf with an injury. Rookie Devontae Booker has been asked to shoulder the load, but he just does not look ready to be a feature back on a playoff-caliber team.
Odds
Line: Broncos (-3)
Over/Under: 39.5
The Chiefs have looked very beatable the past few weeks, as they barely beat the Carolina Panthers two weeks ago, and then were beat at home by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. Quarterback Alex Smith just has not looked right since suffering that non-concussion, and the rest of the team seems to be bitten by the injury bug as well. They were without Jeremy Maclin and Marcus Peters in their loss last week, and they hope both will be back for Sunday night.
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Denver just continues to roll along, and they should once again be in the playoffs this season. Siemian is playing serviceable football, and their defense is arguably the best all-around unit in the AFC. They should be able to put a cap on the Chiefs offense in this one, winning a huge game at home on national television.
Prediction: Broncos 20, Chiefs 14