Denver @ Kansas City preview
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2018 ) Kansas City 27, Denver 23
The Kansas City Chiefs look to continue their divisional dominance – especially against the Denver Broncos – when they host their AFC West rivals on Sunday. The Chiefs have won six straight meetings and are 18-2 against divisional opponents since 2015.
Kansas City sits atop the AFC West again thanks to second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes and one of the league’s most dynamic offenses. Mahomes’ legend grew when he rallied the Chiefs from a 10-point deficit in the final 13 minutes for a 27-23 win at Denver in Week 4. “It’s kind of like we just went in panic mode in the fourth quarter,” Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. told reporters. “Everybody just (needs to) calm down when it gets like that, when we get situations like that. Just don’t go in panic mode as a defense. Everybody just calm down and play football and read your keys. That’s what really hurt us in that fourth quarter.” That was the second of four straight losses for the Broncos, who rebounded with a 45-10 romp at Arizona last week but still trail the Chiefs in the division by three games.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Chiefs -10. O/U: 53.5
ABOUT THE BRONCOS (3-4): Denver’s run defense had been horrendous for three games before tightening up in last week’s win over the Cardinals. The Broncos limited Arizona to 223 total yards and forced five turnovers, but they’ll face a much greater challenge against Mahomes and the Chiefs. Rookie running back Phillip Lindsay has emerged as the workhorse in the backfield, but offseason signing Case Keenum has struggled to maintain possession, throwing nine interceptions against eight touchdowns.
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (6-1): The 27 points against the Broncos marked a season low for Kansas City, which owns the league’s highest-scoring offense. Mahomes has topped 300 yards passing in six straight games – the longest streak in the league – and leads the NFL with 22 touchdown passes, including seven to speedster Tyreek Hill. The defense gives up a league-worst 435.4 yards per game but is coming off a dominant effort in last week’s 45-10 rout of Cincinnati, as it held the Bengals to 239 total yards.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Kansas City LB Justin Houston, who has registered 11 sacks in his last six games against Denver, is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury that already has sidelined him for two contests.
2. Denver WR Emmanuel Sanders, who has recorded at least 100 yards and a touchdown in back-to-back games, is questionable with an ankle injury.
3. Chiefs TE Travis Kelce has notched at least 75 yards and a touchdown in three straight meetings with the Broncos.
PREDICTION: Chiefs 33, Broncos 24