The Kansas City Chiefs got off to a high-flying start this season, sitting at 5-0 after their first five games. While, on paper, things could have been better, the record showed that the Chiefs were back to their old tricks, much to the rest of the league's dismay.
To get to 5-0, the Chiefs blew out the Broncos, captured a close win over the Colts, beat the struggling Dolphins, handed the Raiders their first loss at that point, and then blew out the Chargers despite not playing their best that day. Then came the Seattle Seahawks, who, despite being the reigning Super Bowl champions, were 3-3 and in desperate need of a win.
They got that win and, in doing so, handed Kansas City its first loss of the season. The loss not only showed us that the Chiefs are indeed beatable, but it also meant that this weekend's matchup against the Broncos in Denver has a lot riding on it.
If the Chiefs beat Broncos in Week 8...
A win on Sunday would give the Chiefs the season sweep of the Broncos. It'd also put them comfortably back in first place in the AFC West, as they'd have a 6-1 record versus Denver's 5-3 record. That'd not only give them a 1.5-game lead but the head-to-head tiebreaker as well.
The Chiefs absolutely dominated Denver back in Week 1 at Arrowhead, with Kenneth Walker paving the way. He rushed for over 170 yards and immediately made everyone wonder why they let him waltz into Kansas City and help out Patrick Mahomes and company.
That was Bo Nix's first game back after his ankle injury, one that kept him out of the AFC Championship Game earlier this year and played a massive role in the Broncos not reaching the Super Bowl. He did not look good in the game, and that trend has continued in the following weeks as well.
If the Chiefs lose to the Broncos in Week 8...
This obviously isn't a situation we want to entertain, but there's a reason they play the games, and these Broncos are no longer the same group that once lost 16 straight games to Kansas City. They've made this a rivalry again, so Chiefs fans should expect the Broncos to bring their absolute A-game to the stage on Sunday afternoon.
If the Broncos manage to win this game, it'd give them the edge in the division because they'd have six wins to the Chiefs' five. Now, the Chiefs have played one less game than Denver due to their early bye week, but Denver would still claim the top spot due to having the extra win.
First place in AFC West is at stake
So, again, this weekend's showdown in the Mile High City is a massive one. The victor claims first place in the AFC West after eight weeks of play, with half of the season to go, while the loser is left fighting for a way to get back into that spot.
It'd be an easier climb for the Chiefs, at least for now, as they'd be just one win behind Denver. The two teams would have split their season series, meaning divisional record would be the next tiebreaker if they eventually finished with identical records. The Chiefs would hold the edge there for now, sitting at 3-1 in the AFC West while Denver would be 2-1.
A lot is on the line, but the good news is that there is still a ton of football left to be played. If the Chiefs drop their second straight game this weekend, they'll have some ground to make up, but they'll still be right on the Broncos' tail for that division lead.
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