Chiefs News: Chiefs-Broncos is a pivotal AFC West bout

The Kansas City Chiefs will play the Denver Broncos today at 3:25 p.m. in a game that will have a significant impact on the race for the AFC West title for the rest of the season.

With the Chiefs at 5-1 and the Broncos at 5-2, a win for Kansas City would give them a three-game lead in the division standings because of the head-to-head sweep. However, if Denver wins, the records would be knotted up, and the Broncos would have an inside track at beating out the Chiefs because of the difference in schedule difficulty the rest of the way.

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Today will be the second matchup of the season for the long-time AFC West rivals. The Chiefs' pass rush played a key role in the Week 1 win, pushing Broncos quarterback Bo Nix to his limits. Five Recent Game Results September 14, 2026: Chiefs 31, Broncos 10 at Kansas City December 25, 2025: Broncos 20, Chiefs 13 at Kansas City November 16, 2025: Broncos 22, Chiefs 19 at Denver January 5, 2025: Broncos 38, Chiefs 0 at Denver November 10, 2024: Chiefs 16, Broncos 14 at Kansas City

Today will be the second matchup of the season for the long-time AFC West rivals. The Chiefs' pass rush played a key role in the Week 1 win, pushing Broncos quarterback Bo Nix to his limits.

September 14, 2026: Chiefs 31, Broncos 10 at Kansas City December 25, 2025: Broncos 20, Chiefs 13 at Kansas City November 16, 2025: Broncos 22, Chiefs 19 at Denver January 5, 2025: Broncos 38, Chiefs 0 at Denver November 10, 2024: Chiefs 16, Broncos 14 at Kansas City

The Broncos have allowed an average of just 18.3 points-per-game since Week 2. Kansas City scored 31 points on Denver in Week 1, but the Broncos' defense – the NFL's No. 3 scoring unit last year – has resembled its former self in the time since. The Broncos own the league's No. 4 scoring defense over their last six matchups, holding opponents to an average of just 18.3 points-per-game. Denver's pass-rush has been a major factor behind that success, posting a league-most 21 sacks for the season, and edge-rusher Nik Bonitto – who racked up 14 sacks in 2025 – is coming off a 13-pressure performance against Arizona last week.

The Broncos have allowed an average of just 18.3 points-per-game since Week 2.

Kansas City scored 31 points on Denver in Week 1, but the Broncos' defense – the NFL's No. 3 scoring unit last year – has resembled its former self in the time since.

The Broncos own the league's No. 4 scoring defense over their last six matchups, holding opponents to an average of just 18.3 points-per-game. Denver's pass-rush has been a major factor behind that success, posting a league-most 21 sacks for the season, and edge-rusher Nik Bonitto – who racked up 14 sacks in 2025 – is coming off a 13-pressure performance against Arizona last week.

CB Kristian Fulton When the Chiefs first signed cornerback Kristian Fulton to a two-year deal in the 2025 offseason, this couldn't have been the path they envisioned. The former Los Angeles Chargers standout was hurt coming into the year and spent most of the season buried on the bench, only to show flashes at the end of the campaign and leave just as many questions as answers entering the spring and summer. Seven weeks into the 2026-27 regular season, has Fulton managed to clear anything up? It's complicated. He's been available for 135 defensive snaps — 40% of those possible — and has surrendered just four completions on eight targets for 18 yards ( Pro Football Reference ). He's served primarily as depth, although L'Jarius Sneed's struggles and rookie Mansoor Delane's fluctuating health might make Fulton someone to keep around.

When the Chiefs first signed cornerback Kristian Fulton to a two-year deal in the 2025 offseason, this couldn't have been the path they envisioned. The former Los Angeles Chargers standout was hurt coming into the year and spent most of the season buried on the bench, only to show flashes at the end of the campaign and leave just as many questions as answers entering the spring and summer.

Seven weeks into the 2026-27 regular season, has Fulton managed to clear anything up? It's complicated. He's been available for 135 defensive snaps — 40% of those possible — and has surrendered just four completions on eight targets for 18 yards ( Pro Football Reference ). He's served primarily as depth, although L'Jarius Sneed's struggles and rookie Mansoor Delane's fluctuating health might make Fulton someone to keep around.

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos "Heading into Week 8, Denver has given up the fifth-most rushing yards per game in the NFL this season. This feels like a game where Kenneth Walker carries the Chiefs to victory, just like he did in Week 1." – Breech Walker exploded for 173 yards in the season opener when the Chiefs won by three touchdowns. Breech foresees the rematch winding up significantly closer, but it's still a projected 20-16 victory for Kansas City.

"Heading into Week 8, Denver has given up the fifth-most rushing yards per game in the NFL this season. This feels like a game where Kenneth Walker carries the Chiefs to victory, just like he did in Week 1." – Breech

Walker exploded for 173 yards in the season opener when the Chiefs won by three touchdowns. Breech foresees the rematch winding up significantly closer, but it's still a projected 20-16 victory for Kansas City.

After spending the first six weeks of the season on the Commissioner's Exempt List, Jonathon Cooper just made his season debut last Sunday, reinfusing the defense with a powerful edge setter. Meanwhile, the Chiefs' offensive line is highly unstable beyond the Pro Bowl combo of C Creed Humphrey and RG Trey Smith. All that said, Denver must do a better job of tackling. The Broncos memorably missed 28 tackles in the season opener at K.C. — the most whiffs by any team in a single game over the past three seasons, per NGS — and comfortably lead the league with 94 missed tackles in 2026. I think they atone for a humiliating Week 1 performance with a more buttoned-up effort in the friendly, Mile High confines, settling the season score with the Chiefs in a low-scoring win.

The list of teams that have expressed at least some level of interest in trading for Taylor is thought to include the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, sources said. As they discuss potential Taylor trades with teams, the Colts already have received at least one offer that includes a second-round draft pick, along with additional compensation, sources told ESPN. Colts owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Taylor met this week and had what sources described as an in-depth conversation to discuss the future. Irsay-Gordon is said to have an affinity for the three-time Pro Bowler, and the Colts would prefer for Taylor to be a part of their rebuild.

The list of teams that have expressed at least some level of interest in trading for Taylor is thought to include the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, sources said.

As they discuss potential Taylor trades with teams, the Colts already have received at least one offer that includes a second-round draft pick, along with additional compensation, sources told ESPN.

Colts owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Taylor met this week and had what sources described as an in-depth conversation to discuss the future. Irsay-Gordon is said to have an affinity for the three-time Pro Bowler, and the Colts would prefer for Taylor to be a part of their rebuild.

Asked if Simmons will play as much on Monday night as he played each week with the Titans, Johnson said it might not be quite that much. "He might not be quite that high Week 1 for us, but he certainly has shown the ability to carry a load," Johnson said. Johnson added that he has no doubt Simmons will pick up defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's system quickly.

Asked if Simmons will play as much on Monday night as he played each week with the Titans, Johnson said it might not be quite that much.

"He might not be quite that high Week 1 for us, but he certainly has shown the ability to carry a load," Johnson said.

Johnson added that he has no doubt Simmons will pick up defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's system quickly.

"I won't make any excuses," Brown said before Wednesday's practice. "I missed a couple blocks. I'm going to leave it at that." In that same interview Wednesday, Brown was hopeful he'd be a full participant in each of the team's three practices this week. Then he popped up on the injury report Wednesday as a limited participant because of a knee injury, which makes it likely he suffered it in practice.

"I won't make any excuses," Brown said before Wednesday's practice. "I missed a couple blocks. I'm going to leave it at that."

In that same interview Wednesday, Brown was hopeful he'd be a full participant in each of the team's three practices this week.

Then he popped up on the injury report Wednesday as a limited participant because of a knee injury, which makes it likely he suffered it in practice.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

The Broncos have one of the league's best third-down defenses, allowing only a 33% conversion rate, ranking second in the NFL. Their offense has been a different story, converting only 31% of their third-down attempts, which ranks second to last in the NFL. The Chiefs offense has been middle of the pack converting on third downs, currently ranked 15th with a 39% conversion rate. A poor showing on third downs in Seattle has dropped them down the rankings, and things won't get any easier this week against the Broncos.

The Broncos have one of the league's best third-down defenses, allowing only a 33% conversion rate, ranking second in the NFL. Their offense has been a different story, converting only 31% of their third-down attempts, which ranks second to last in the NFL.

The Chiefs offense has been middle of the pack converting on third downs, currently ranked 15th with a 39% conversion rate. A poor showing on third downs in Seattle has dropped them down the rankings, and things won't get any easier this week against the Broncos.