The Denver Broncos are back in the saddle. After their close game against the Green Bay Packers, things are looking up. The future is brighter, the weather is fine. But then along come the Kansas City Chiefs. This week’s game is the second hardest on the schedule, behind playing the Chiefs in Kansas City, which the Broncos already did and lost. This time, the game is in Denver, and while that’s only worth about three points toward the spread, you know what’s said about any given Sunday. But if the Broncos want a chance at beating the Chiefs, they may only have one opportunity to do it. This is how Denver can beat KC.
This Gives the Broncos A Chance – How Denver Can Beat KC
The Plan to Avoid
First, what not to do. If Sean Payton was Bill Belichick, he’d find a way to take away tight end Travis Kelce. Not only is Kelce having a monster season, but he has monster games against Denver, who currently give up a ton of yardage and points to tight ends. But that may not be possible, Kelce is simply too strong. And anyway, take away one player and a dozen more pop up like Hydra heads as weapons. Isiah Pacheco, Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, Kadarius Toney, Marques Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman, Noah Gray, just to name a few. The Chiefs are simply too good and have too many options. Taking away one isn’t going to do much. That’s not how Denver can beat KC.
The Trick to Deploy
However, all is not lost. The Broncos can compete with the Chiefs. And how Denver can beat KC is fairly simple – give Patrick Mahomes Halloween nightmares. This gives the Broncos a chance. And it may be the only way. Since all action flows through Mahomes, taking him out of his rhythm may be the only option. Much like their recent Super Bowl loss, when the Chiefs are entirely dependent on Mahomes and he struggles, they can be beaten. The key is to make him run for his proverbial life. Take him out of his comfort zone and you make him human again. Blitz, blitz some more, and then blitz again. Send nine men if you have to, but attack Mahomes before he can attack you, it’s the only way.
How Denver Can Beat KC
Denver can’t cover all of Kansas City’s offensive weapons all the time. They can’t eliminate Travis Kelce from the game plan completely. And the Broncos probably can’t match the Chiefs point for point. But what they can do is send so much pressure Mahomes’ way that he is running away from the blitz on every play. He might find the open receiver anyway, but he also might throw an interception. This is a gamble that Denver will have to take. And, really, they have nothing to lose. The NFL has made it clear that Taylor Swift is a secret weapon that makes Travis Kelce and the Chiefs unbeatable. But Denver has Ciara and Condoleezza Rice, and that’s not half bad. Is it enough to push them over the top? Maybe not. But perhaps Denver’s defense is. It may just be how Denver can beat KC.
Main Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
