CHIEFS (7-3) VS. BRONCOS (7-3)
SUNDAY, 8:30 P.M. ET, SPORTS AUTHORITY FIELD AT MILE HIGH, DENVER uTV:
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
About the Chiefs: Streaks ended for the Chiefs on Sunday in a stunning 19-17 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs had won five consecutive games this season and 10 in a row at home. The Bucs had 74 plays to Kansas City’s 52, outgained the Chiefs 442343 and controlled the ball for 35:18. Much of that was attributed to their 11-for-16 success rate on third downs, prompting Chiefs coach
to say, “We couldn’t get them off the field defensively, and we couldn’t stay on the field offensively.” There also was a killer fourth-quarter interception thrown by QB
on a play that began at the Tampa Bay 6-yard line with the Chiefs trailing 12-10. QB Jameis Winston then led the Bucs on a nine-play touchdown drive for a 19-10 lead.
About the Broncos: Denver hopes to return from its bye refreshed and ready to make a move in the final six weeks of the regular season. Said general manager
“I think we would have taken it if we said in Week 10 we were going to be 7-3, with what’s happened. We haven’t played our best football yet, which I think is the encouraging thing, but we’ve played hard week in and week out. I’m excited about the possibilities of what we can do.” Added coach “To be 10 weeks into it with some of the changes that we’ve had, playing a first-year quarterback ( losing (running back)
defensively the guys that we’ve had down, we’re right there.” CB (back) and (elbow) are expected to return to practice this week and play Sunday night against the Chiefs. Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston played his first game of the season in Week 11.
Matchup to watch: Broncos WRs Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders vs. Chiefs secondary. With Kansas City CB Marcus Peters (hip) out Sunday, Winston passed for 331 yards. Will Denver have Siemian pass more than expected on CBs
and if Peters can’t play? He played his first game of the
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
season Sunday against Tampa Bay after returning from a knee injury. He hopes to play more snaps and might have to, depending on the status of OLB who injured his hamstring against the Bucs.
Combined points the Broncos and Chiefs have allowed in the fourth quarter this season. Does something have to give? Denver has outscored its opponents 116-40 in the final 15 minutes, and the Chiefs have outscored their opponents 86-37.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Chiefs need offense: Kansas City played another game Sunday without WR
(groin), and the Chiefs need him to be anything close to consistent on offense. Denver’s secondary is strong, and without Maclin, the defense can make sure RB Spencer Ware is contained.
2. Siemian stepping up: The first-year starter has shown growth, but now he has to show he can do it in crucial games in November and December. During the bye, Kubiak said of Siemian, “I want to see him continue to lead better and better with this football team. I want to see his play become more consistent. He has to continue to play big for this team, not OK. We need him to play big.”
3. Minimizing mistakes: The Chiefs have 23 takeaways and the Broncos have 20 this season. But Kansas City is plus 13 to Denver’s plus 5 because the Broncos have 15 turnovers compared with 10 for the Chiefs. It seems obvious, but the team that does the best job in that category likely will win.
Howard Balzer