Heading into their Week 13 primetime matchup in Kansas City as a huge underdog, the Broncos’ main objective should be to win, as it always is, but that’s an unrealistic ask.
To start with, the Broncos (4-7) should focus on not getting embarrassed, and that begins with containing The Cheetah, Kansas City wideout Tyreek Hill, who’s been on a rampage of late. Hill toasted Tampa Bay for 269 yards on 13 catches with three touchdowns this past Sunday.
Beating the Chiefs (10-1) to snap a 10-game losing streak? I wouldn’t bet on it, as Denver barbecue joint G-Que did with Joe’s Kansas City (the loser buys lunch for 100 kids in each city). Instead, I put the odds on another Denver decimation at the hands of their AFC West rivals, who are on track for a fifth consecutive division title and another Super Bowl run.
The trends in this game, specifically in regards to the game-breaking Hill, are all pointed in Kansas City’s favor. In addition to the show Hill put on against the Bucs, he posted 100-yard receiving games in each of the previous two weeks, too, and has at least one touchdown catch in nine of his 11 games this year.
Tight end Travis Kelce is finding his All-Pro groove, too, with 100 yards of receiving or more in three of his past four games. Hill and Kelce rank second and third in the league, respectively, in receiving yards this season at 1,021 and 978.
Meanwhile, the Broncos’ secondary is seventh in the NFL with 210.1 passing yards allowed per game, but that ranking is merely window dressing against quarterback Patrick Mahomes and an elite Kansas City offense capable of dressing down any defense. Plus, Denver will be without the services of Bryce Callahan — who has arguably been the Broncos’ best cornerback in 2020 — due to a foot injury.
That means more pressure on Denver’s unproven cornerback reserves such as rookies Michael Ojemudia and Essang Bassey, which sets up for a Kansas City free-for-all similar to the 43-16 blowout at Empower Field on Oct. 25.
Denver’s last win against the Chiefs came with Peyton Manning at quarterback on Sept. 17, 2015, in Kansas City. In the 10 games in the series since, the Broncos have been outscored 301-164. Don’t count on the Denver offense keeping up in a shootout even with starting quarterback Drew Lock back taking snaps.
Win at Arrowhead Stadium? Broncos fans can forget about it. There is a Royal Gorge-sized gap between the talent on these two teams, and it’s a gap that’s only grown wider this year. The last three matchups have been clear evidence of that, with the Chiefs holding a combined 71-point differential in those blowouts.
Broncos fans can only hope Hill doesn’t have enough reason to bust out his Shannon Sharpe imitation again: Hitting up the sideline phone to call in help for the opposing defense. Because if recent history between these two teams is any indication, the help Denver needs to slow this K.C. steam-train is way more than a phone call away.
