Broncos (1-4) at Chiefs (4-1)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. EDT, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
TV: Prime Video
Spread (BetMGM): Chiefs by 10.5
Broncos’ keys to victory: The Broncos will be heavy underdogs and will need to have a spoiler’s mentality. Putrid play from QB Russell Wilson and the rest of Denver’s offense has doomed the Broncos to irrelevance. Wilson will need to elevate his play, RB Javonte Williams has to get something going in the ground game early, and CBs Pat Surtain II and Damarri Mathis will have to play lights-out against the reigning MVP, QB Patrick Mahomes.
Chiefs’ keys to victory: Kansas City has everything to lose in this matchup and would be wise to minimize the strain put on Mahomes and maximize the talents of RB Isiah Pacheco. The Chiefs’ path to Super Bowl 58 will be determined by the health of their roster in January, and after an injury scare with TE Travis Kelce against the Vikings in Week 5, Kansas City can’t afford to lose any of their key players in a game against a 1-4 opponent. If the Chiefs dominate on the ground, expect this one to get away early.
Matchup to watch: Chiefs offensive line vs. Broncos defensive line. Kansas City’s offensive line is on a hot streak after its win against the Vikings. OT Jawaan Taylor struggled with penalties earlier in the season, and with an increased workload for Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon, it will be incumbent on Broncos DLs Zach Allen, D.J. Jones and Jonathan Harris to win at the line of scrimmage.
Who wins? The Chiefs are riding a hot streak, and Denver has looked utterly ineffective.
Chiefs, 35-19