Broncos vs Chiefs key storylines
1. With Kenneth Walker III coming to town, the Broncos will be called on to clean up an operation that missed 28 tackles in the Chiefs' season-opening romp. Kansas City surely wants to get the Super Bowl 60 MVP back to his early-season form after the Seahawks kept him in check. Denver has shown signs in recent weeks of its run defense coalescing, but Sunday will mark a stiff test after the group overwhelmed shorthanded backfields in the last two weeks.
2. Injuries loom large in the matchup between the Chiefs' aerial attack and the Broncos' vaunted pass defense. Getting receiver Rashee Rice and right tackle Jaylon Moore back could provide a significant boost to a Kansas City attack coming off arguably the worst offensive outing of Patrick Mahomes'
tenure. But Denver could also get significant reinforcements with cornerback Patrick Surtain II trying to play after sitting out three weeks with an ankle injury.
3. A methodical Denver offense finally found its explosive streak last week against Arizona, with Bo Nix and RJ Harvey both reeling off long touchdowns. Repeating that effort against the Chiefs could be difficult, especially with Jaylen Waddle's status in question after he suffered a chest injury late against Arizona. But the emergence of rookie running back Jonah Coleman, who had 93 rushing yards in his first game back from injured reserve, could help the Broncos avoid the obvious passing situations that plagued the team early in the season.
Broncos vs Chiefs odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Broncos -1
- Moneyline: Broncos -125; Chiefs +105
- Total: 43.5
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Broncos vs Chiefs USA TODAY expert picks
Adam Kaufman: Chiefs 23, Broncos 20
Three points. That's all Kansas City managed in Seattle on the way to its first loss. I'm expecting a response, although Denver is hardly the place to assume everything gets fixed, especially after seeing multiple come-from-behind wins for the home team this year at Mile High. The Broncos have won three straight, but their injury picture matters, particularly with Patrick Surtain II and Jaylen Waddle. The Chiefs have their own issues to sort through, and the Week 1 blowout doesn't tell us how this rematch will unfold. We should get a considerably tighter game, with both defenses making the offenses work. I'm not sure I trust Patrick Mahomes, given the lack of quality pass-catchers around him, but I do trust Kenneth Walker III against one of the NFL's worst run defenses on the heels of a homecoming dud.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Chiefs 17, Broncos 10
Even with all of their readily evident limitations, it's hard to believe the Chiefs could turn up truly putrid offensive performances in back-to-back weeks. Denver, on the other hand, might be dealing with its own regression to the mean, as it seems unlikely that last week's explosive plays will carry over against the Chiefs. A rout similar to Week 1 might not be in the cards, but Kansas City should be able to escape with the sweep.
Nicholas Brinkerhoff: Broncos 20, Chiefs 16
This should be a marquee game, but now it feels like just another game on the Sunday slate – due in part to a sleep-inducing Broncos' offense and very flawed Chiefs team. Kansas City's Week 1 blowout victory over Denver feels like a lifetime ago, and maybe that's because it was. Bo Nix showed some signs of life last week, while Patrick Mahomes is running out of receivers. If the Chiefs can't win by handing the ball off to Kenneth Walker III, they can't win. Denver knows that. We know that. The home team wins in the Mile High City.
Where to watch Chiefs at Broncos
- Matchup: Broncos vs. Chiefs
- Date: Nov. 1
- Time: 4:25 p.m.
- Venue: Empower Field at Mile High
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- TV: CBS
Chiefs at Broncos updated injury report
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chiefs at Broncos: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 8 game
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