Broncos vs. Chiefs: 5 things to know for Thursday Night Football
Ahead of the Denver Broncos’ showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football, we asked John Dillon of Chiefs Wire five questions about KC and Thursday’s matchup. Check out our questions and Dillon’s answers below.
Most important question first -- will Taylor Swift be at the game?
It is unclear whether Taylor Swift will be at the game, but by all accounts the romance between the pop star and tight end Travis Kelce is still in full swing. Kelce suffered an ankle injury against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5, and with such a short window between games, it seems unlikely that he will make a huge difference anyway.
Who do you think will be more involved going forward, Rashee Rice or Skyy Moore?
Rashee Rice definitely seems to be the favored option right now, but Broncos fans shouldn’t sleep on Skyy Moore’s ability to gash opposing defenses. Andy Reid is more likely to work Moore in for gadget chunk plays, but Rice is a safe bet to get involved more in the traditional receiver role.
Do the Chiefs have any weaknesses the Broncos might be able to exploit?
If Kelce is out for the matchup or limited in any capacity the Broncos will be able to hang back and play coverage on Kansas City’s receivers without having to compensate for the All-Pro tight end’s ability to eat them up in the middle. Don’t sleep on backups Noah Gray and Blake Bell, though, as they both have great chemistry with Patrick Mahomes that could lead to outsized impacts if they aren’t properly defended.
Does KC have any under-the-radar players who Denver fans should be aware of this week?
Nobody on the Chiefs’ roster really flies under the radar given the magnifying glass that is on the team at all times. Mike Danna came up huge for Kansas City last week to seal the victory over the Vikings, so he is my pick on defense. On offense, Justyn Ross is the guy to watch when he is on the field, though his contributions are likely to be limited to a few snaps here and there.
What's your prediction for Sunday -- who wins and why?
I’ve got to take Kansas City, and I’m going to predict a blowout. Denver has been such a tough team to watch, and despite the Chiefs’ struggles on offense, Patrick Mahomes is still a force to be reckoned with as the reigning MVP. Give me Kansas City in this one with a final score of something like 49-10. Not as bad as the Broncos loss to Miami, but still a tough one to swallow for Denver’s fans.
