In what will be the Chiefs’ first real test of the year, they take on the Broncos on Sunday Night Football. The one advantage the Chiefs have against Peyton Manning that the other nine teams didn’t have is he is dealing with an ankle sprain. This sprain could limit what he can do against a Chiefs defense that ranks number one in the NFL with 36 sacks. This game wraps up a great day of football starting at 8:30pm ET on NBC.
- When:
Sun., Nov. 17th, 2013 @ 8:30pm ET
- Where:
Sports Authority Field, Denver, CO
- Who’s Favored?
DEN by 7.5 ~ 49 o/u @ BetOnline
- More Info:
Last season Manning guided the Broncos past the Chiefs in both games they faced including a 38-3 blowout to end the 2012 regular season. In his two games against the Chiefs last season Manning threw for 589 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. For his career Manning has a 7-1 record with 2,232 yards passing, 14 touchdown passes and six interceptions. Manning’s only loss occurred during the 2004 season in Kansas City. In the loss Manning threw for 472 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
For the Chiefs it will come down to what they have done all season long play great defense, run the ball and don’t commit turnovers. The Chiefs enter this matchup ranked sixth against the pass with 208.3 and first in points allowed per game with 12.3. The only problem with running the ball is the Broncos rank fourth in run defense allowing 87 yards per game. If the Chiefs want a shot in this game it may come down to Alex Smith against a Broncos defense that is allowing the fourth third most passing yards in the NFL per game. Smith who has 1,919 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions hasn’t thrown for over three hundred yards in one game this season.
This game will ultimately come down to how well Manning plays. If Manning plays like he did Sunday against the San Diego Chargers this could be a long day for the Chiefs. The Chiefs aren’t built to throw the ball and the possibility of not having Dwayne Bowe at the receiver position could hurt them as well. This is just the first of two division battles that could determine which of these two teams win the AFC West.