Broncos at Chiefs: Game preview, odds, prediction

In a huge AFC West matchup on Sunday Night Football, the Denver Broncos will head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs.

The AFC West has been one of the toughest divisions in football this season, as three of their four teams still have the potential to make it to the playoffs. Entering Week 15, the Kansas City Chiefs were in the driver’s seat in the division, fresh off another victory against the Oakland Raiders. Denver was clinging to life at 8-5, though if they won out they would likely get in as one of the the two wild cards.

Both teams were disappointing last weekend, as they each lost huge games at home. First, the Kansas City Chiefs were beaten by the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium, which is a place they seldom lose. Denver welcomed Tom Brady and the No. 1 seed New England Patriots to town in Week 15, but the offense could muster nothing in a 16-3 loss. Each team will be looking to keep their playoff hopes alive on Sunday night in a game that could be an instant classic.

The Chiefs are currently slated to be a wild card in January, but they cannot afford to lose anymore games. Quarterback Alex Smith looked putrid in the second half against the Titans, and he is going to have to play a heck of a lot better against one of the better defenses in the league on Sunday. Denver has the ability to really get after the quarterback, so if Smith though the Titans were bad, he is in for a long night against the Broncos.

Odds

Line: Kansas City (-3.0)

Over/Under: 37.5

Denver quarterback Trevor Siemian has played very well as of late, and the organization expects him to be their signal-caller past the 2016 season. He came out of nowhere to wrestle the starting job away from rookie Paxton Lynch and veteran Mark Sanchez in the preseason, and he really has done a nice job in his first year as the team’s starter. He will be facing a tremendous defense on Sunday night, so it will be interesting to see what he can do in a pressure-filled game in prime time.

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The Chiefs hardly ever lose at Arrowhead Stadium, but they have lost their twice this season. However, the Broncos are starting to have a mutiny on their hands, and the offense and defense got into a rumble after their loss last week. Expect the Chiefs to take care of business at home on Sunday night, but this one is going to go down to the wire.

Prediction: Kansas City 17 Denver 10