ClutchPoints
The Kansas City Chiefs are heading to Denver for what could be the most pivotal AFC West matchup of the 2025 season. Sitting at 5-4, Kansas City simply cannot afford another loss if they want to salvage their playoff hopes. The Denver Broncos, meanwhile, are riding high at 8-2 with a stranglehold on the division and a 10-game home winning streak against the Chiefs. This isn’t just another divisional showdown—it’s a battle between the league’s second-best scoring defense and one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses.
Patrick Mahomes will face one of the most formidable defensive fronts in the NFL. Denver’s pass rush has been absolutely relentless, leading the league in sacks with an elite 37.5% red-zone defensive touchdown rate and generating double-digit pressures each game. The Broncos recorded six sacks on just 26 pass attempts against Las Vegas last week, and they’re the most aggressive blitz team in football. However, Mahomes’ passer rating of 103.1 on the season suggests he’s operating at an elite level despite recent struggles against Buffalo. With a full week off to rest and recharge, the two-time MVP will find ways to get the ball out quickly and attack Denver’s secondary downfield. Expect Mahomes to throw for at least 275 yards and two touchdowns, proving that even Denver’s elite pass rush cannot completely contain his otherworldly ability to extend plays and find receivers in tight windows.
The return of right tackle help is critical for Kansas City’s protection scheme. Mahomes’ ability to improvise when plays break down gives him an advantage that few quarterbacks possess. Denver’s pressure will be relentless, but the Chiefs’ playmakers will be ready to punish an aggressive secondary that’s giving up chunks of yardage to teams willing to attack vertically.
Denver’s defense is built around its elite front four and one-dimensional approach—they want to collapse the pocket and force quick decisions. That’s where Travis Kelce and the Chiefs’ receiving corps come into play. Kelce will see softer coverage due to Denver’s commitment to generating pressure, and the future Hall of Famer will exploit this matchup relentlessly. Look for Kelce to post his best performance in weeks with six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. As the emotional leader and safety valve for Mahomes, Kelce’s presence in the middle of Denver’s defense will provide consistent opportunities on third-and-medium situations.
Denver’s linebackers, though effective in coverage, don’t match up well against the Chiefs’ arsenal of pass-catching options. With the Broncos expecting to win by out-muscling Kansas City’s offense, they’ll leave their middle exposed. Kelce will punish them vertically, turning short gains into explosive plays through his ability to break tackles and move the chains in clutch moments.
Here’s where the script flips completely. Denver’s offense is a paradox—they lead the entire NFL in punts despite a...
