Broncos at Chiefs 5 questions: What does the future hold for KC?

In the words of Michael Scott from the TV show “The Office:” “Well, well, well, how the turntables …”

Over the last decade, the Denver Broncos have been the franchise already eliminated from the AFC Playoffs, and their season over, while the Kansas City Chiefs are playing for the AFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Now it’s a role reversal on Christmas night at Arrowhead Stadium.

How are Chiefs fans feeling heading into the penultimate game of the season?

Down to its third-string quarterback and numerous players now on season-ending IR, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Broncos as massive -13.5-point favorites. The total sits at over/under 36.5 points, with a lean toward the under at -112.

We go “behind enemy lines” to get a feel for the Chiefs heading into Thursday night’s game with Maurice Elston from Arrowhead Pride to preview Sunday’s game.

MHR: How are Chiefs fans feeling heading into the penultimate game of the season? What are they doing to cope with how this season turned out?

Maurice: Chiefs Kingdom feels divided. Between the way the season unraveled, Patrick Mahomes’ injury, and the announcement of a future move to Kansas, the fan base is in a place it hasn’t been since before Andy Reid arrived. There’s frustration, uncertainty, and a lot of reflection about how quickly things changed.

MHR: Why did this season unfold the way that it did? What can the franchise learn from it?

Maurice: Mental fatigue played a major role. Sustained winning masked issues that needed correcting, and last season’s ability to pull out close games wasn’t repeatable. This year, the margin for error vanished, and the flaws became impossible to hide. The biggest lesson is not to take sustained success for granted.

MHR: What does the future hold for KC? Is this the new norm for the Chiefs?

Maurice: The future remains bright. The Chiefs still have elite foundational pieces, and a potential top-15 draft pick creates an opportunity to add a true difference-maker. A quick rebound is possible, but it will depend on smart personnel decisions and alignment in free agency and coaching.

MHR: How will the team change in the offseason? What will KC do to get better?

Maurice: Changes on the coaching staff feel necessary, particularly on offense and special teams, where discipline and consistency slipped. Defensively, the Chiefs need a dominant pass rusher to complement Chris Jones and a high-level safety to stabilize the back end. With uncertainty around Mahomes’ availability, adding a feature running back and a true X receiver who can win against man coverage should also be priorities.

MHR: What do you want to see from the Chiefs vs the Broncos and then in the last game of the season?

Maurice: The focus should be on the young offensive players. Kansas City needs defined touches for Brashard Smith and Jalen Royals, with Smith ideally seeing double-digit opportunities. Beyond that, getting Travis Kelce into the end zone would matter...