According to the New York Times simulator, the Denver Broncos odds of winning the AFC West jump to 49% if they beat the Kansas City Chiefs but plummet to just 14% with a loss.
That alone should tell us how important this game is for the Broncos. However, I’d also like to point out that 49% seems a bit ridiculous given
the half game lead Denver would have and how the Chiefs will enter a gauntlet of a five-game stretch against playoff contenders — mostly on the road.
Either way, this is as big of a must-win game as it gets in the regular season for the Broncos. They have to have this one.
Broncos daily recap
Broncos vs. Chiefs: 3 Things to Watch in Week 8
Here are three storylines to watch as the Denver Broncos battle the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8.
How the Denver Broncos can beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8 rematch
Here are three things the Denver Broncos must accomplish to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in their Week 8 rematch.
Malcolm Roach is having a great season
The seventh-year pro is really stepping up in an increased role in Denver’s defensive trenches.
Potent quotables
Sean Payton
Opening statement
“Pretty normal Wednesday relative to the schedule. Any questions?”
On how the Chiefs have changed since their Week 1 matchup
“I think the one change from the last couple of years is their ability and commitment to running the football the way they’re doing. They’re doing—obviously the addition of a runner, that’s the one thing that you see. Obviously it’s a divisional team. There haven’t been really any coaching changes. You have ample film. It does feel like it’s been a while, although relative to a season it hasn’t.”
On what the Broncos can learn from Seattle’s performance against the Chiefs
“I would say this, I think when you look at crossover film, you’re always like, ‘All right, who attacked him best? Who defended him?’ You’re more attentive to those games. So obviously it’s a real good defense, talking about Seattle. So there are certain things that carry over maybe structurally and then other things maybe that don’t relative to the scheme.”
On ILB Alex Singleton’s importance to the defense
“He’s playing well. He had a ton of production last week. It was the first time since 2017 where he had two weeks at Calgary as the defensive player of the week. Little trivia there. We had a picture for him. Listen, he’s playing well with good instincts and had some big plays last week in the run game.”
On if RB Kenneth Walker ll contributed to the Broncos’ tackling struggles in their last matchup with the Chiefs
“I think I probably said it after the game, there were a lot of things that we didn’t do well Week 1 that hopefully in this second time around we can be better in a number of areas.”
On WR Marvin Mims Jr.’s success this season
“I think to his credit, whenever we ask something of him—whether it’s intermediate, down the field—he’s been really effective. Obviously as a returner, that first return with the ball midfield, those are… I’ve said this before, the receiving now to start the game. [At] minimum there’s a threshold, but to start where we started, those are things that he’s shown us consistently. He continues to have those touches and then where you want to even get him more touches. It’s sometimes a challenge, but certainly he’s deserving.”
On the challenges of getting WR Marvin Mims Jr. more touches
“Sometimes it’s coverage and then it’s trying to find those personnel groupings where we’ve got a number of guys that are healthy and playing well. So hopefully we can find those opportunities.”
On the depth and production of the wide receiver group
“I think we only have one receiver banged up. I think. It’s [WR] Jaylen [Waddle], relative to this game. We had good work today. We’ll continue to work the details of the plan, but I thought today’s practice was good.”
On the signs of improvement in the run game
“I think I’ve been a broken record just relative to a lot of things offensively and us improving. There was obviously a step last week. We have to continue to build on it, different type [of] defense in this game. I think it’s shifting the focus to the technique of where these ends play, the type of front we see. It’s different than the last couple of games.”
On if he communicated with Head Coach Andy Reid while coaching in New York
“No, I just saw a ton of… I was in charge in Philadelphia of looking at Green Bay where Andy was with [former Head Coach] Mike [Holmgren]. I was in charge of Denver, San Francisco, I think Kansas City. Those teams that maybe were in a similar type of offense. Then Andy got hired in 1999 and I was going to the Giants. Then over the years, obviously, he’s in Philly, I’m in New York, I’m in Dallas. Then I think it was just coincidence early in New Orleans. We played them a number of times and over the years. There’s a ton of respect for what he’s been able to do, but we didn’t overlap per se. There was some clip on the internet last night where he was, I think, playing the Jets, and this might have been his first or second year and [Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach] Bill [Parcells] was talking to him. He’s done a great job.”
On how QB Bo Nix and C Luke Wattenberg share responsibilities when the Broncos face loaded pressure looks
“Great question. It’s harder when you’re on the road because they can pay attention to the heel and the silent snap. It’s a loud stadium. The advantage at home is—you try your best to undress it as to, is it four weak, two strong? You’re trying to undress it a little bit with something that gets him into— that’s harder to do when you’re there than when you’re at home. So there’s a lot on Bo, this is tonight’s gameplan. There’s a lot on the center, the communication. Obviously it’s more challenging when you’re on a silent snap count.”
On what he means by being aggressive
“There are a ton of ways. It could be a motion, it could be a shift, it could be anything that maybe can help move them into it. Which is a little bit harder to do when you’re there.”
On the impact of the fans in a game like this
“I think just after that last question, the snap count. Our home games have been amazing. It’s hard to measure the end results, but it’s been significant. Our crowd noise, all of that just adds stress to the operation. A week ago, what was very unique was it felt like a home game. I think in a game like this, it’s significant.”
On if he has coached a road game with a large turnout from his team’s fans
“Man, that was something. I yelled at [QB] Bo [Nix] like, ‘What are you doing with the silent snap count?’ That’s their issue. No, that was impressive.”
On what QB Bo Nix’s 62-yard run could mean for future games
“I think structurally you have to look at the play. They’re playing a match coverage. So pattern read guys. If you didn’t know any better, you’d look at it and say they have man in the zone and the safety tricks in which he’s supposed to do. You would ask the question a week ago. It’s not something you head off the week with relative to the quarterback. He did a good job of just sensing a cavity. There’s a clip where almost every defender except one, and that’s where the halfback went to the left, was on the right side of the field and then ‘Traut’ (TE Adam Trautman) saw what was happening. So I think it depends on… In that defense, the eyes are on the receivers more than the eyes are on the QB. So I think sometimes it’s the scheme and yes.”
On DT Malcolm Roach’s development as a pass rusher
“I think I would say this: he does a lot of things well. The other thing as an NFL player, you know exactly what you’re getting that’s very helpful then when you’re putting a gameplan together. Then all the other things with his personality and you guys have been around him, he’s consistent. I think that’s important to find those type of players in your front.”
On if he takes time during the season to appreciate his career milestones
“Not really now. In other words, I think it really is the moment. It’s the game. As soon as we’re finished, quick cold shower, coffee, film. You get immersed in the plan. I’ve been part of a lot of good teams with good players that have helped make a lot of that happen and we’re still going. In other words, someday maybe looking back on it. We’re just trying to find a way to get this one.”
On if he envisioned reaching 300 games when he began coaching
“When you get your first job, wherever it is, you are just trying to hit the ground running and you kind of have that three years where something better happens or there’s going to be another suit at the same podium. So there’s that fear of failure, there’s that sense of urgency. Then over time, then part of it’s staying healthy and enjoying it still. Being passionate about it because it’s for all these guys. The players, the assistants, we just talked about playing at home. There’s a ton of… All the positives and yet our bigger distractions are when you’re at home, those closest to you. It’s not just the tickets. So trying to compartmentalize all of that. To answer your question, I think there’ll be a time at some point, but I’ve been fortunate and sometimes we don’t get to pick our bloodlines. Sometimes that’s the job, and I’ve been fortunate to have had some good bloodlines getting started.”
On how he balances reviewing the Week 1 matchup with studying other games to prepare for Week 8
“This would be the right, wrong or indifferent. The very first day, Seattle, boom, last game before that, before that, our game, last season. So then immediately into the cutups and then you would ask, ‘What do you want the cutups to offer?’ This morning I was looking at 2025, 2026, third down. I could look at 2024 maybe for an idea. I could look at 2023. That’s the unique thing with the carryover that you can still find something with the structure and [Defensive Coordinator] Steve’s [Spagnuolo] done it consistently great for a long time. So it’s what you want to draw from. That game will be in the cutups, but so will other games. How did Indianapolis play him to overtime? What did they do well? Those are important things relative to what’s in the cutups. So the week’s coming to an end and then maybe there’s let’s put a game on again. The cutup mode right now is tonight will be Third-and-two to three. We’ll look at 30 or however many two-to-threes we want to look at for short yardage, that type of thing. Obviously there’s going to be wrinkles, but you get at least a personality of what you’re going to have to attack.”
On if he discusses the stakes of the game with the team
“No. I think each season, this is not… I think teams in our league start with goal [No.] 1, win the division, goal [No.] 2 is best playoff seed and goal [No.] 3 is win a championship. So these division games work towards that first objective, and obviously we’re playing a good team that has certainly been at the top of this division a long time.”
On if the Broncos can still win the division if they lose this game
“Yes, because it’s another way of asking, is this a must-win game to win the division? I would say it probably isn’t because there’s so much season left, but it would be easier to win the division if we won this game. It’s a division game. My message really afterwards was just that I said, ‘Look, don’t lose track of goal one, goal two, goal three.’ We’re going to play in bigger games, but this is the next one and I’m sure they’re looking at it the same way.”
On where TE Travis Kelce ranks among tight ends
“Man, the savvy, all those things that… The instincts. The things that sometimes are hard to teach, he’s got. He’s still sudden out of the break point. So transitionally, which is a very important trait for a tight end, transitionally, he’s very difficult. So he can stop, he can change direction, he can feel zone, he can feel man, and then he understands where the squeeze is. It’s almost like feeding the ball to someone in the post. He understands where the leverage is and then where the… He does that very well.”
On if he has taken a closer look at the pass interference call against CB Riley Moss
“Yes, I think there’s more to that. I think what we all saw was the finish. I think the way it was explained to me, I think on that double move, if you went back, I think they were calling really more of a tug before we saw the end. The end was clean, but I think the call came from the earlier portion of the round.”
On OLB Nik Bonitto’s ability to pressure the quarterback
“If you’re affecting the quarterback—I get the sacks—but if you’re affecting the quarterback, that’s sometimes a pressure that leads to an interception is a better play than a sack. Look, he’s got real good instincts, get off, all of those things that shorten that. Call it three count, that the quarterback has or 1,001, 1,002, 1,003, whatever that is. It’s harder to play the position if that clock is a little quicker.”
On his interest in the World Series
“I haven’t watched any of it. Yes. I enjoyed playing. I wasn’t real good at it. It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to follow it just because of the season. I knew last night was a good game, I guess. My wife told me, but that’s about it.”
Bo Nix
On the importance of Sunday’s game against the Chiefs
“I think point blank, it’s important to our team. It’s important to us as players. They’ve been a really good team for a long stretch, and they continue to win games… It’s very challenging because they’re such a good football team all the way around. It starts with coaches, and then their players and their scheme. They do a great job, and they just know how to win. They built a great culture of winning. For us, it’s about the next-game mentality. We know it’s a big one. That goes without being said. After falling to them already this year, this one is important to us. I expect a good game.”
On what he’s taken away from rewatching the Week 1 game against the Chiefs
“I’ve watched it several times. I watched it after immediately and then watched it again this week to prepare. It definitely doesn’t leave me excited with how that game ended. There are a lot of things we can focus on and correct. What I’ve learned over the past is you can’t play the same game twice. That’s going to be a completely different game than what Sunday’s game is going to be, and you have to play it as such. You have to show up with a different mentality and just compete and just do what you can to have a different outcome than last time.”
On if he feels like “he’s back” after his performance Sunday in Arizona
“I’ll never play a game where I’ll tell you I played good or didn’t have a need to change. For me, it all goes back to, ‘What can I watch? What can I take from? How can I be different? How can I change?’ I always feel like there’s something I can improve upon. We played better, but realistically you can look at things and every game you can pull things that didn’t go your way. Sometimes you can overlook the important things that you need to fix. These wins that you’re winning may turn into losses because you didn’t fix them over time. For me, it’s all about getting better. That’s just—in my opinion—the right way to be a professional. You never want to be the same. You never want to stay the same because to maximize my opportunity and my talents, I don’t have a choice but to get better. I can’t stay the same.”
On the message his 62-yard touchdown run against the Cardinals sends to people
“Quite frankly, I don’t really care what it sends out to people. I’m just going to continue to play my game, run when it’s there, throw when it’s there and put up points.”
On his thoughts on the 62-yard touchdown run at Arizona after looking at the tape
“It was very open. I didn’t realize how open it was at the time. When you’re in that moment, you kind of feel like you’re about to get killed in many different directions. When you watch it on TV, there’s just a lot of space and a lot of room to run. Great job by our guys of allowing the play to develop. It just all goes back to strength and conditioning.”
On what sticks out about ILB Alex Singleton’s leadership style
“I think Alex does a great job of playing with such a relentless intensity and relentless effort. He kind of models the way in which our defense as a whole plays. I feel like sometimes leadership is action and it’s just by how you play. You can just tell by the way he plays. He’s passionate, he’s intense, he’s competitive and he’s tough as nails. It’s impressive to see him continuously overcome the things that he’s overcome in the last couple of years and still put a great product on the field. To me, it just starts with his intensity, his passion and his competitive spirit out there. It bleeds throughout the team.”
On how much room he feels like the offense has to grow
“I would say there’s still a lot out there… I do think there’s a lot of room for growth, a lot of room for improvement. That’s why it’s exciting. We’re sitting here at 5-2, we’ve played a really tough schedule and we’re talking about all the ways we can improve. We’re close, but I don’t feel like we’re really dominating or scratching the surface of what we can be. We are doing what we’re supposed to do to win games, which is first and foremost the most important thing. I do think we’re leaving some things out there with penalties, third downs and some other things. It starts with me. We’re going to correct it. We’re going to get the job done. At the end of the day, we’re not satisfied. I think that’s the most important thing, and you can tell by the way we practice, and how we’re working and how we’re preparing is we’re not satisfied. I don’t feel like anybody on the team is from the coaches on down. That’s where you want to be at this point in the season.”
Courtland Sutton
On hitting an explosive play to set the tone early on Sunday in Arizona
“I feel like when you’re able to execute something like that, you get these looks and you hope you get the right look whenever you install the play. When you do see the look, you get the right coverage, everything comes together, everyone does their job for us to be able to have a play like that and give us that momentum boost to start the game. I think it energizes—not just the offense—but everybody on the sideline. It’s like a confirmation, affirmation, of, ‘We can go make this happen.’”
On if the offense still has room to grow
“I think there were more flashes of what we expect in this past game. It wasn’t perfect, and we did leave some meat on the bone out there. There were still opportunities that we could’ve hit and had the game going a different way. I’m sure if you asked the Cardinals, they’d say the same thing. If this would’ve happened, if that would’ve happened. One of my good friends always jokes, ‘If “if” was a fifth, we’d all be drunk.’ We can sit here and say, ‘if,’ all day. There were a lot of things for us to learn from in that film session. We did score 30 and that was nice, however you go watch the film and you’re like, ‘We had this right here,’ or, ‘We had this opportunity right here. If we would have just done this a little bit cleaner.’ Or, ‘If this would’ve happened, then who knows what could’ve happened. Who knows how many points we could’ve scored.’ When you do score 30, and you do go watch the film and you see those opportunities out there, it’s like when this thing fully clicks, it’s going to be a lot of fun going out there and playing offense.”
Under the radar
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