Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) face off against the Denver Broncos (9-7) in an exciting matchup scheduled for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EST on CBS. According to BetMGM, the Broncos are favored by 9.5 points. In terms of performances against the spread this season, the Chiefs have a record of 7-8-1, while the Broncos have exceeded expectations with an 11-5 record. In the ongoing series rivalry, the Chiefs hold the edge with a lead of 73-56 over the Broncos. The previous encounter saw the Chiefs narrowly defeat the Broncos 16-14 on November 10, 2024, at Arrowhead Stadium.
Last week, the Chiefs showcased their prowess with a solid 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day, whereas the Broncos fell just short, losing 30-24 in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals. This week, the Chiefs will see quarterback Carson Wentz starting in place of Patrick Mahomes, who will be rested after securing the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Wentz, a former Pro Bowler with Philadelphia, has faced injuries throughout his career but will now get a chance to impress teams in need of quarterback help heading into the next season.
On the Broncos’ side, cornerback Riley Moss will be a player to watch. After a month out due to a sprained MCL, he had a rough return last week and was targeted multiple times by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and wideout Tee Higgins, who connected for several touchdowns. Moss, however, is having a promising second year in the NFL and will need to regain his form if the Broncos hope to advance in the playoffs.
A key matchup in this game will be between Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Hopkins is poised to see some action as he is close to triggering performance bonuses: nine receptions away from 65, which would earn him an additional $250,000, and he is also within reach of earning more for total receiving yards and touchdowns. Surtain is on track to claim the Defensive Player of the Year title, having effectively neutralized top wide receivers throughout the season. In last week’s game, he limited Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase to only three catches for 27 yards, a testament to his defensive capabilities.
In terms of injuries, the Chiefs will be without several notable players, including running back Isiah Pacheco due to ribs, right tackle Jawaan Taylor because of a knee injury, cornerback Jaylen Watson with an ankle injury, and wide receiver Mecole Hardman who is also nursing a knee issue. Defensive lineman Chris Jones is among nine players listed as doubtful due to various ailments. While it is confirmed that Mahomes won’t be playing, he is still officially listed as doubtful for the game.
On the other hand, the Broncos are relatively healthy, with only backup tackle Frank Crum sidelined due to illness as they head into Week 18.
Historically, the Chiefs have been dominant against the Broncos, particularly since Peyton Manning’s retirement. They enjoyed a 16-game winning streak before a loss in Denver last season. Recently, they barely secured a win in their last encounter with a crucial blocked field goal, preserving their slim victory.
The Chiefs have already set a new franchise record with their impressive 15 wins this season, and they could equal the single-season record that was established by New England in 2007. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown the most touchdown passes (245) in his first eight years, while tight end Travis Kelce surpassed Tony Gonzalez’s touchdown record for the Chiefs and has achieved over 1,000 career receptions. Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Bo Nix has emerged as one of the top performers in the league since Week 5, and several Broncos players, including linebacker Jonathon Cooper, are on the verge of personal milestones.
