Late December has arrived and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are taking part in out the string whereas the Denver Broncos are targeted on grabbing the No. 1 seed within the AFC.
It’s a main change of the script because the Broncos look to guard their AFC West lead after they go to the Chiefs on Thursday for a Christmas night time kickoff.
Denver (12-3) holds a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Chargers within the division race and is tied with the New England Patriots for the highest report within the convention. The Broncos maintain the tiebreaker edge over New England.
Denver is coming off a 34-20 loss to the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday that halted an 11-game profitable streak. If the Broncos lose once more Thursday, then the Week 18 battle with the host Chargers can be for the AFC West crown.
“Each one among these gamers understands the importance of the place we’re at with two video games left within the season,” Broncos coach Sean Payton stated Tuesday.
Denver has its sights on sweeping the Chiefs (6-9) for the primary time since 2014, and the gamers are conscious a stumble might be disastrous.
“You have simply acquired to maintain profitable,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix stated. “No matter it takes to win the sport. Does not actually, at this level, matter what it appears like. All of the cool, flashy stuff can have already occurred. Now, it is simply who’s acquired extra factors.”
The Broncos beat the Chiefs 22-19 on Nov. 16 when Wil Lutz kicked the profitable 35-yard subject purpose as time expired. Denver has gained three of the groups’ previous 4 conferences after the Chiefs gained 16 straight within the collection.
Kansas Metropolis limps into the rematch with six losses up to now seven video games and with its streak of consecutive seasons reaching the playoffs over at 10.
Patrick Mahomes sustained a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee throughout a 16-13 loss to the visiting Chargers on Dec. 14. Then final week, Gardner Minshew (decrease leg) sustained his personal season-ending harm in a 26-9 street loss towards the Tennessee Titans.
That leaves Chris Oladokun as a first-time starter towards Denver. He completed the sport towards the Titans and accomplished 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards.
“There’s all the time one thing to wash up,” Oladokun stated. “However for a primary outing, I felt actually happy with myself.”
Oladokun, 28, has been within the Chiefs’ group since 2022, when he was signed to the follow squad. He had appeared in only one recreation previous to changing Minshew, and he had by no means thrown an NFL move.
“There’s a bit of extra electrical energy as a result of I am the man really going by way of it,” Oladokun stated of main the offense in follow.
The Chiefs signed quarterback Shane Buechele off the Buffalo Payments’ follow squad on Monday to be the backup. Buchele was within the Kansas Metropolis group in 2021-22.
Whereas Oladokun relishes the chance, the competition might be star tight finish Travis Kelce’s last house recreation.
Kelce, 36, is weighing retirement for the second straight marketing campaign.
“I do not know whether it is or not,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated of the potential for Kelce taking part in his farewell house recreation. “His numbers and character and the particular person, I feel, communicate for themselves.”
Kelce was named to his eleventh Professional Bowl on Tuesday. He has 68 receptions for 803 yards and 5 touchdowns this season.
Kelce made 9 receptions for 91 yards and a rating within the first matchup towards the Broncos.
Denver ranks fifth in scoring protection (19.7 factors per recreation) and fourth in whole protection (291.6 yards per recreation).
Three Denver defenders — cornerback Pat Surtain II, linebacker Nik Bonitto and defensive finish Zach Allen — had been chosen to the Professional Bowl.
Kansas Metropolis receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton each have concussions and did not follow on Monday and Tuesday. Cornerbacks Trent McDuffie (knee) and Jaylen Watson (groin) additionally missed these two periods.
4 Broncos have not practiced this week by way of Tuesday: receiver Pat Bryant (concussion), tight finish Nate Adkins (knee), heart Luke Wattenberg (shoulder) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hamstring).
–Subject Degree Media
