The AFC West is showcased on Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Mile High Stadium to face the Denver Broncos. Kansas City is primed to go off a bye after back-to-back wins over the Steelers and a 45-10 spanking of the Lions in London. The Broncos are home off their first loss of the season, a 27-24 decision at
Indianapolis to a fired up Colt outfit that played it’s best game of the year. The game opened with Denver as a touchdown favorite with the total 42 1/2. Money has come on the Chiefs and under and the line has settled at Denver -5.5 and the high/low 41. Weather is expected to be perfect for the CBS 4:25 PM EST prime timer with
the temperature at kickoff expected to be around 58.
The Chiefs were thought to be a major player in the AFC this year but … they had the Broncos easily beat in Week II at Arrowhead before surrendering two Bronco touchdowns in the final 36 seconds (the final on a fumble return with 27 secs left) and losing 31-24. Kansas City promptly dropped its next four and wound up 1-5 before
Pittsburgh. Alex Smith had a dicey five games during the losing streak but the Chief’s have rushed the ball for 344 in their last two wins relegating the former Utah star to a game manager role, the thing he does best. Travis Kelce has been the Chief’s best player and has emerged as an elite tight end. The defense has been down thanks
to a minimal pass rush, a Kansas City strength in recent seasons.
Had to figure Denver’s performance at Indy. The Broncos had played a nearly perfect game the week before in their 27-10 win over the “Battle of the Unbeatens” with Green Bay. Peyton Manning has been an enigma this year although his production and has picked up dramatically in the last three games. Manning practiced for the first time this week on Thursday after nursing a sore foot earlier in the week. The Bronco defense wasn’t real sharp last week but is still ranked No.1 in the league and top five in virtually every defensive metric.
The Broncos have owned the series of late winning the last seven in the series and the last three here by a combined 52 points and all by a touchdown. That said, this is another best spot for Kansas City off two wins and a bye. Andy Reid teams are 14-2 ATS off their bye, 4-1 getting points. Urgency in definitely with the Chiefs but it is conceivable that Kansas City could win out as it plays the softest second half schedule in the league. Manning status and recent propensity for weak second halves makes this one the marquee matchups of the weekend.