Week 9 revealed that the Denver Broncos are not invincible. With Peyton Manning and crew suffering their first loss of the season, everyone will find out what the Broncos are made of as they look to bounce back at home against the well-rested Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs headed into their Week 9 bye on the heels of back-to-back victories. Will the Chiefs continue rolling? Or will the Broncos go 2-0 against KC this season?
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver
When: Sunday, November 15, 4:25 PM ET
Line: Kansas City Chiefs (+6.5) at Denver Broncos (-6.5); total: 42.0 –see all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Kansas City Chiefs (3-5)
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Chiefs had an easy time carving up Detroit’s defense in London in Week 8 for a decisive 45-10 victory. With that win and a bye now behind them, the Chiefs next look to avenge their 31-24 early season defeat to the Broncos when they travel to Mile High City. Kansas City is 5-5 ATS in its last 10 trips to Denver.
Of course, Alex Smith was at the forefront of Kansas City’s offense that hung 340 total yards on Detroit. Against the Lions, Smith passed for 145 yards and two touchdowns without an interception on 18 of 26 completions. In addition, Smith ran for 78 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
The Chiefs can’t expect Smith to continue being that effective on the ground against Denver, which is galaxies apart from the Lions, especially on defense. With that said, look for the Chiefs to mix things up with the passing game. That means added work for Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce, who lead the team with 566 and 538 receiving yards, respectively. Both players combined for 115 receiving yards on eight reception in the first meeting with the Broncos.
The reliance on the passing game becomes even more amplified for the Chiefs given the absence of Jamaal Charles, who played such a big part in Kansas City’s offense in the first meeting with Denver by rushing for 125 yards and a touchdown. That said, Charcandrick West has been a decent replacement for Charles, as the second-year running back has averaged 80.0 yards on the ground in three games as the starter.
The Broncos’ dreams of an undefeated season were dashed on Sunday, when they lost to Indianapolis, 27-24. They return home next Sunday, looking to sweep Kansas City in the regular season. The Broncos are 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in three games in Denver thus far this 2015-2016 campaign.
The Broncos’ vaunted defense was surprisingly ineffective against Indianapolis, which was even pegged as a three-point home underdog. Denver is No. 1 in the league in scoring defense (17.4 points allowed per game), first in total defense (274.1 total yards), and first in pass defense (181.0 passing yards), but had a hard time containing Andrew Luck, whom they allowed to pass for 252 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Perhaps this was just one of those off-nights for Denver’s defense and should be back to normal next week against Kansas City.
That said, the Broncos’ pass rush, which sacked Luck just once, may not be as effective as it used to be for the meantime with outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware expected to miss at least a week due to injury. Ware leads the team with 6.5 sacks and his void will have to be filled by Von Miller (4.0 sacks), Malik Johnson (3.5 sacks), and Shaquil Barrett (3.5 sacks). All told, Denver’s pass rush remain a force to reckon with when it goes up against Kansas City’s shaky offensive line that allowed the Broncos to sack Smith four times in the first encounter.
Over at the offensive side of the ball, Peyton Manning will have another shot of becoming the NFL’s all-time passing leader against Kansas City’s defense that surrenders 226.6 passing yards per game.
