The Kansas City Chiefs, the AFC’s number one seed, will travel to Denver this Sunday to face the Denver Broncos. With a record of 15-1, the Chiefs have already secured home-field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs. The Broncos, sitting at 9-7, are in a must-win situation to clinch the final playoff spot in the AFC. In their previous matchup on November 10, the Chiefs narrowly defeated the Broncos 16-14. The game is set to kick off at 4:25 PM EST.
Read on for the prediction of the Chiefs/Broncos game.
Chiefs Prepare for Playoff Push
After a convincing 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day, the Kansas City Chiefs solidified their position as the top team in the AFC. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the charge, throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns. The Chiefs’ performance not only marked their impressive season record but also allowed them to rest key players ahead of the playoffs.
“Securing the No. 1 seed is a significant achievement,” Mahomes stated. “It feels like winning a playoff game.”
In their recent triumph over the Steelers, Mahomes connected with wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson for touchdowns, alongside a scoring throw to tight end Travis Kelce. This touchdown was Kelce’s 77th career score, setting a new franchise record. The Chiefs amassed 384 total offensive yards while holding Pittsburgh to 364 yards but effectively limiting their red-zone efficiency to just one score out of four attempts.
With the playoffs on the horizon, Head Coach Andy Reid has announced plans to rest several starters, allowing them to prepare for the first round of the playoffs. The Chiefs rank 11th in scoring, 27th in rushing, and 10th in passing this season. Defensively, they excel, sitting second in scoring defense and seventh against the run.
**Injury Updates:** Key players such as QB Patrick Mahomes, OT Jawaan Taylor, CB Trent McDuffie, RB Isiah Pacheco, and DT Chris Jones are currently listed as questionable.
Broncos Seek Redemption
The Denver Broncos missed a critical opportunity to secure a playoff berth on Saturday, falling to the Cincinnati Bengals 30-24 in overtime. A tie would have sufficed, but the Broncos struggled to maintain control of the ball in the final moments of the game. Now, they face a challenging task against the division-leading Chiefs, needing a win to secure their playoff spot.
“It was a tough loss,” said Denver coach Sean Payton. “We had chances, and the effort was commendable. But ultimately, we fell short.”
In the Cincinnati game, the Broncos displayed resilience, with quarterback Bo Nix connecting with Marvin Mims Jr. for a last-second touchdown to force overtime. Nix finished with an impressive 24 completions on 31 attempts, totaling 219 yards and three touchdowns, while Mims Jr. caught eight passes for 103 yards and two scores. However, the Broncos’ defense struggled against the Bengals, allowing 499 total yards, including 384 passing yards.
The Broncos’ path to the playoffs is straightforward: win and advance. They currently rank 10th in the NFL for scoring and are performing well defensively, sitting fifth in scoring defense. However, they face challenges in the passing game, ranking 25th against the pass.
**Injury Updates:** OT Frank Crum is questionable, while RB Tyler Badie, S Delarrin Turner-Yell, LB Alex Singleton, and OT Quinn Bailey have been ruled out.
Best Bets for Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
