The Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL's sole undefeated team in 2024, are set to host their long-time rivals, the Denver Broncos, this Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. While it's tempting to look ahead to next week's matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs must remain focused on their AFC West adversaries.
Kansas City enters the game as a two-score favorite, reflecting their on-paper advantage and historical dominance. Since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback, the Chiefs have compiled a 12-1 record against the Broncos, effectively reversing the trend from the Peyton Manning era.
Will the Kansas City Chiefs roll on against the Denver Broncos?
However, Denver's defense is formidable and could pose challenges for head coach Andy Reid's offense. Following last week's narrow overtime victory, some Chiefs fans may feel apprehensive heading into Sunday's game. Despite these concerns, there are compelling reasons to trust the Chiefs this week. Our writers share their insights below.
Patrick Allen
This is a classic trap game for the Chiefs. Denver's defense is for real but the only way I can see the Broncos keeping pace with KC is if the Chiefs help them out with turnovers. I don't think KC does them the favor today.
Chiefs 28, Broncos 21
Price Carter
The Broncos are a much improved team compared to the team that ended the streak last year. However, their defense has benefited from a very easy schedule. The only rookie QB to beat Steve Spagnuolo with the Chiefs was Aidan O’Connell in a game with two defensive scores and he didn’t complete a pass in the second half of that game. Bo Nix is in for a long day.
Chiefs 28 Broncos 16
Matt Conner
The Broncos are looking like a team with some direction this season, but they’re a couple of leaps away from being at contender status. That doesn’t mean they can’t surprise the Chiefs from time to time and win an occasional mid-season battle as division rivals can and will do from time to time. What it does mean is that it feels silly to actually predict such results when the disparity between franchises is still considerable.
Chiefs 27, Broncos 13
Lyle Graversen
Divisional games have been ugly for the Chiefs even in seasons where almost every game doesn't come down to the wire like it seems to this season. The Broncos defense is just good enough to give KC troubles and Bo Nix will make just enough plays to keep it close, but ultimately Denver just doesn't have the weapons to keep up.
Chiefs 20, Broncos 13
Braden Holecek
Kansas City has not seen a Denver team as competitive as this in forever. The Chiefs' defense will put a truly difficult test on display for rookie Bo Nix. Both teams blitz often and have got home for pressures and sacks fairly well this season. Which pass rush gets home more is going to be the aspect I am watching for most in this AFC West rivalry. This game feels like it could be tight, with the Chiefs possibly pulling away at the end.
Chiefs 30, Broncos 16
Felix Johnson
The Broncos are currently a playoff team. Yes, the chill ran down my spine, too. They might be improved and slightly overrated, but the Chiefs never cover these gigantic spreads. The offense is rolling now, though, so expect some fun football.
Chiefs 31, Broncos 24
Jacob Milham
. The Broncos and Chiefs are both professionals; they all drive fancy cars; yada yada yada. Denver has improved this year, but the same holes in their scheme and roster remain. Spagnuolo's more tame plays will still cause headaches for rookie starter Bo Nix, while the Broncos remain a one-trick pony on offense. Patrick Mahomes is another animal in November, going 18-3 in the month since he joined the league. History points to another nail-biting win, but my guy says this game is the blowout Chiefs fans have been waiting for.
Chiefs 31, Broncos 14
Greg Morse
The Chiefs could run their record to 9-0 for the first time since Andy Reid’s first year. That year everyone believed the Chiefs were a paper tiger, and they were, ultimately losing to the Peyton Manning-led Broncos multiple times. This year's team feels more like a paperweight tiger—a slow-moving yet extremely effective weapon that can just bash other teams in. I don’t think the 2024 Broncos will fare as well as their 2013 counterparts mostly because this year the Broncos feel like the paper tigers.
Chiefs 31, Broncos 10
Shawn O'Brate
I think the DeAndre Hopkins-Patrick Mahomes connection is going to put the fear of god into the Broncos, leaving dudes like Travis Kelce, Justin Watson, and Xavier Worthy a little more space to get open. Bo Nix has had moments so far this season where he has looked legit, but he hasn’t faced a true defense like the Chiefs, let alone a DC like Spags. All in all, the Chiefs put together a very complete game to put even more snakes in the NFL’s boots.
Chiefs 28, Broncos 13
Stacy D. Smith
On Sunday, Kansas City plays host to the Denver Broncos for their first home divisional game of the 2024 season. The Broncos are 5-4, but their record is a bit misleading. Those five victories have all come over sub-.500 teams. It's tough to know how much of their No. 3-ranked scoring defense is legit or a simple by-product of facing some of the league's worst offenses. With the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, nature is healing and Patrick Mahomes has posted two of his three highest-rated games of the season. That said, I expect this game to prove a bit more challenging than Chiefs fans expect. Kansas City will have some offensive struggles in this game. Defensively, the Chiefs will make life hard for rookie Bo Nix and force a pair of turnovers. This game will be close throughout, but the Chiefs will edge their rival.
Chiefs 24, Broncos 17
Lucas Strozinsky
I feel like I say this every week, but I foresee another ugly win. This time, it actually makes sense. The Broncos have a good defense and the Chiefs have the Bills on the schedule next week. This seems like a trap game, but the Chiefs still win. I don't think they want to lose twice in a row to Denver.
Chiefs 23, Broncos 18