Chiefs News 11/15: This will be the Broncos’ biggest game since Super Bowl 50

SB Nation

The latest

NFL Week 11 picks, predictions, schedule, odds, fantasy tips | ESPN

What we’re hearing on the Chiefs: DT Chris Jones has recorded two sacks (97th in the NFL) and a pressure percentage of 9% (43rd in the league),

but the Chiefs aren’t worried about his slow start. “Chris is always striving to do better every day. That’s what has made him such a good player,” coach Andy Reid said. “Again, he’s the guy that they’re going to focus on, and if you’re getting a double team, that’s who’s getting doubled. He’ll get his as we go forward, it’s just important that he stays consistent and keeps working hard.” — ESPN staff

Denver Broncos take AFC West lead into game against Kansas City Chiefs | USA Today

The Broncos are about to play the franchise’s biggest game in nearly a decade – since another signature defense carried Peyton Manning to a crown in Super Bowl 50 – and there’s great anticipation about whether they will pass this serious litmus test.

No, there’s no parade on tap. The Broncos can’t win the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Yet here come the Kansas City Chiefs.

And not just the typical Chiefs, who have owned the division with nine straight AFC West titles and almost never lose after a bye week. These are the desperate Chiefs (5-4), who have played in the last three Super Bowls but wouldn’t even be in the dance if the AFC playoffs started today. That makes them extra dangerous.

NFL Week 11 schedule rankings: Top 5 Sunday games with the best home crowds | The Athletic

1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) at Denver Broncos (8-2)

Our clubhouse leader for a few reasons. It’s hard to not have an amped-up home field amid a seven-game winning streak. Standing in the way of No. 8 is Denver’s dynastic nemesis. K.C. has seized the last nine AFC West titles, and it lifted the Lombardi Trophy three times along that run. There’s a visual synchronicity between the late-afternoon Colorado sunsets and the wall-to-wall orange wrapping Mile High. There’s spiritual alignment with the Broncos’ top-ranked pass rush and the crowd’s bellowing “in-com-plete” refrain. And there’s end-of-the-movie tension whenever Patrick Mahomes is in the building.

At 8-2, Sean Payton’s team is chasing the AFC’s top seed. That’s invaluable, as the Broncos are unbeaten at home through five tries. We can already hear Jim Nantz and Tony Romo straining their voices in the echoing altitude.

Chiefs just got the green light to bring Khalen Saunders back where he belongs | Arrowhead Addict

Khalen Saunders cleared waivers after being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While Saunders has yet to find an official place to land, the Chiefs have to be considered among the favorites, given the need up front and their familiarity with one another. The Chiefs lost second-round pick Omarr Norman-Lott to ACL injury in the first half of the season, and will be reliant upon aging veterans to carry them through the rest of the season and beyond. Those names include Mike Pennel and Derrick Nnadi, among others.

Saunders first entered the NFL as the Chiefs’ third-round choice in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Western Illinois. General manager Brett Veach rolled the dice in that draft when taking Saunders, knowing the leap from the FCS level to the NFL is a massive one. Still, Saunders’ reputation as “The Aaron Donald of the FCS” was enough to interest the Chiefs.

Around the NFL

Bill Belichick says he will not pursue any NFL head-coaching vacancies | NBC Sports

“I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families,” Belichick said in a statement released by the program. “The New York Giants played an important role in my life and in my coaching journey. It was a privilege for me to work for the Mara family and be a member of Coach Parcells’ staff for over a decade. However, despite circulating rumors, I have not and will not pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.

“Since arriving in Chapel Hill, my commitment to the UNC Football program has not wavered. We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni, and the entire Carolina community. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud. . . . We’re on to Wake Forest.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs’ Dave Toub discusses kick returners, Harrison Butker’s progress

In Kansas City’s last outing against the Buffalo Bills — a 28-21 loss in Week 9 — wide receiver Tyquan Thornton appeared to take over as the preferred kick returner. Thornton returned four kickoffs, while incumbent return man Nikko Remigio handled only one.

Toub was encouraged by what Thornton did in Buffalo, so we should expect to see kickoff alignments featuring him in Denver on Sunday.

“[In Buffalo,] we wanted certain guys to have the ball at certain times,” explained Toub. “So we tried to put guys in a position where we thought they were going to try to kick to us.

“Thornton was really good when we played last time. Four returns — I think he averaged like 32 yards per return. We had a nice counter where he almost popped the second one. So he was promising back there — and then Nikko did a hell of a job blocking. When he didn’t have the ball, he blocked really well — so it was a good combination.”

Toub clearly wants Thornton to be fielding the kicks, but he’s happy to have both players on the field.

“We wanted [Thornton] to have the ball,” he remarked. “Nikko? I felt good with him having it. too. I liked the tandem that we had back there.”