For Broncos Country, the early season race for the AFC West already seems lost. The team is coming off of a humiliating defeat while the Kansas City Chiefs are rolling over the NFL. The Broncos will host the Chiefs on Monday Night Football, which is shaping up to be the most important game of the season. A win would catapult the Broncos to first place in the division. A loss would sink the team to a 2-2 record, while the Chiefs would roll to 4-0. The Broncos enter the game as clear underdogs. Despite this, the team has the tools to upset the NFL’s hottest team. The Denver Broncos can upset the Kansas City Chiefs but will need to play better than they have in their first three games.
How the 2-1 Denver Broncos can upset the Kansas City Chiefs on MNF
Control the Time of Possession
The biggest key to stopping any high-powered offense is to keep the ball out of the opposing offense’s hand. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes enters week 4 as the hottest quarterback in the NFL. Mahomes has set an NFL record this season, throwing 13 touchdown passes in the first three games of the season. The Broncos will need to sustain long drives to keep the ball out of Mahomes’ hands early. With an injury-riddled secondary, Mahomes would have no problem carving up a Broncos defense that couldn’t get off the field in last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Broncos should lean heavily on their dynamic rookie running back duo of Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay to attack a 19th-ranked Chief’s rush defense. Keeping Mahomes on the sidelines is a good way for the Broncos to get out to an early lead, allowing their defense to pay to its strengths
Unleash the pass rush
Throughout the first three games of the season, the Broncos pass rush has performed particularly well. The Broncos currently rank sixth in the NFL, averaging 3.0 sacks per game. A key to how the Denver Broncos can upset the Kansas City Chiefs is to unleash their loaded front-seven. This week’s clash against the Chiefs presents a marquee matchup with the Chief’s sixth-ranked pass protection entering week four (1.3 sacks per game allowed). This matchup is more than winnable for the Broncos. So far, the Chiefs have faced only one team that ranks in the top ten in sacks per game (Pittsburgh Steelers). Von Miller, Bradley Chubb and the rest of the Broncos talented defensive front will need to play their best to put pressure on the Chiefs young star quarterback.
Put the game on Case Keenum‘s shoulders
The Chiefs appear to have one standout weakness on their electric team: their pass defense. In 2018, the Chiefs are tied for last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (362.7 ypg). The Chiefs have also ranked 30th in the NFL by allowing 30.7 points per game. The Denver Broncos can upset the Kansas City Chiefs by allowing Keenum to exploit the Chiefs’ poor defense. Keenum has been lukewarm in his first three starts as the quarterback of the Broncos. But, against the Chiefs’ weak secondary, this could be Keenum’s perfect breakout game. The Broncos cannot depend on their own defense like they could in years past. Keenum was brought in to be the next best quarterback for the Broncos. This is the game that he needs to be that quarterback.
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