Chiefs, Broncos battle for AFC West lead
Kansas City holds a 1.5-game edge before Sunday's rematch at Empower Field, a contest that will define the division race.
By Petra Murphy ·
The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will meet Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET at Empower Field at Mile High to determine which team holds the division lead. Kansas City, which defeated Denver 31-10 in Week 1, currently sits at 5-1. The Broncos are 5-2. A Chiefs victory would extend their lead over Denver to one and a half games. A Broncos win would shift the division edge to Denver by half a game. Both teams have separated themselves from the Las Vegas Raiders and the winless Los Angeles Chargers.
The AFC West has been controlled by these two franchises for 16 consecutive seasons. The Chiefs won nine straight titles from 2016 to 2024. The Broncos claimed the division from 2011 to 2015 and again last season. This streak continues as both teams enter the second half of the schedule with the best records in the conference.
Denver's defensive unit is attempting to correct the tackling issues that plagued them in the opener. The Broncos missed 19 tackles in the Week 1 loss. They have since reduced that number, including a nine-missed-tackle effort against the Chargers last weekend. Linebacker Alex Singleton noted that the team must build on the good plays rather than focusing solely on the mistakes. If Denver misses more than five tackles Sunday, the Chiefs' running game, led by Kenneth Walker III, could exploit those gaps.
Walker rushed for 173 yards and a 60-yard touchdown in the first meeting. He was held to 36 yards in the Week 7 loss to Seattle, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes expects the offense to continue feeding him. Right tackle Jaylon Moore is expected to return from the concussion protocol, and receiver Rashee Rice is recovering from a hamstring strain. The Chiefs' pass rush has been inconsistent, with All-Pro Chris Jones recording only 0.5 sacks and edge rusher George Karlaftis with one sack.
Denver quarterback Bo Nix is looking to build on his performance against Arizona, where he threw a touchdown pass and ran for a 62-yard score. Nix currently ranks 26th in QBR at 45.2. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is questionable with a chest injury. If he sits, the Broncos' offense, which ranks 28th in plays of 20 or more yards, will rely more heavily on rookie running back Jonah Coleman. Coleman averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his limited snaps and has a 21.1% rate of carries for 10-plus yards.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker faces pressure after missing two field goals last week. The team signed veteran Justin Tucker to the practice squad Wednesday. Head coach Andy Reid said Butker's technique is inconsistent. Butker has missed 15 kicks since the start of last season. An early miss could force the Chiefs to stay on the field on fourth down.
Denver cornerback Pat Surtain II is expected to play after missing the past three games with an ankle injury. Safety Talanoa Hufanga is a question due to a right ankle injury. The Broncos went 7-0 in games without Surtain over the past three seasons. The Chiefs have generated 10 takeaways this season and look to pressure Nix to create turnovers, a strategy that led to two Denver mistakes in Week 1.
