After dropping their Week 16 matchup to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Denver Broncos are looking forward to getting back on track versus the Kansas City Chiefs. This is a must-win game for the Broncos who control their own destiny relative to the AFC West title and #1 seed in the AFC. Here are three players I believe need to play at a high level in order to defeat the Chiefs on Christmas.
RJ Harvey — Running Back
There weren’t many positives from the Broncos’ loss to the Jaguars. It was a reality check for most every player
on the team. However, rookie running back RJ Harvey impressed as both a runner and receiver. He totaled over 120 all-purpose yards and reeled off a big touchdown run.
I’ve been quite impressed with his versatility during his rookie campaign. With 11 total touchdowns, the second-round pick leads all rookie skill position players. That’s praiseworthy. To topple the Chiefs at Arrowhead on Christmas, the Broncos’ offense is going to need him to have another great game.
Division matchups are always tough. Even with the Chiefs having a down year, their run defense ranks Top 10 in the NFL in most categories. It won’t be easy, but the offense line is going to have to find ways to open up running lanes for Harvey to have an impact on the game.
For late season and postseason success, establishing the run and being able to control the clock and pace of the game will be crucial. I’m optimistic Harvey can continue to be a focal point in the Broncos’ offense and be the spark they need to churn out a win on Thursday. That’d be a wonderful Christmas gift, Broncos Country!
Nik Bonitto — Edge Rusher
“Big-time players make big plays in big games,” was a phrase often used by former Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan. There is no doubt fourth-year edge rusher Nik Bonitto is becoming one of the league’s best pass rushers. With that in mind, Denver is going to need him to kick his play up a notch against the Chiefs to come out with a victory.
While the Broncos pass rush lead the league in most pass rush metrics, rattling backup quarterback Chris Oladokun is mission critical for Denver to earn a win against the Chiefs on Thursday. I expect them to get the ball out quickly. Nevertheless, Bonitto’s pass rushing prowess is going to need to be full throttle in order for that to happen.
Bonitto ranks Top 10 league-wide in sacks with 12.5 on the season. He started off the season with several multi-sacks game but has just 4.5 sacks dating back to Denver’s thrilling comeback victory over the Giants in Week 7. The former Oklahoma Sooners standout was critical of his play last week and vowed to do better against Kansas City. Let’s see if that happens.
Courtland Sutton — Wide Receiver
As the regular season winds down, the Broncos will need to rely on their veteran players to come up clutch. One player that has rose to the occasion in big moments throughout the season is wide receiver Courtland Sutton.
Last week I was hoping for a big game from Troy Franklin. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to accomplish much in the passing game. For their Week 17 matchup versus the Chiefs, I’m banking on Sutton showing his consistency and toughness to help the Broncos achieve victory.
Over the past four games, the leader of the wide receiving corps has notched at least 5 catches for over 60 yards. He is on a two-game hot streak with 13 catches for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Chiefs’ defense is allowing a 68-percent completion percentage to opposing teams and a QB rating of 94.0. Those are well below the league average. However, they are Top 10 in the league limiting yards and touchdowns through the air.
If Sutton is able to come down with some big grabs, that would significantly boost the odds of Denver earning their thirteen win of the season. Just like last year, the Nix-to-Sutton connection has blossomed in the second half of the season. I’m confident we will see those two impress on Christmas.
