KC Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos: NFL Week 6 Preview and Predictions
The Kansas City Chiefs are back at home for two games following a two-week road trip, although things aren't necessarily shaping up to be a cakewalk for Andy Reid's team. All of their next three contests are against AFC West opponents, with the first of two outings versus the Denver Broncos coming on the Thursday Night Football stage.
Denver, 1-4 on the year, is off to a troublesome start despite a better campaign from quarterback Russell Wilson. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is fielding quite literally one of the worst units in league history to begin 2023, which isn't nearly good enough to contribute to winning football. The Broncos' season is on life support just over a full month into the year, setting the scene for a 'desperation mode' game in Kansas City.
How will tonight's game unfold? The Arrowhead Report crew makes their predictions.
Joshua Brisco: The Broncos' offense has legitimate weapons (for now) and a better-than-last-year season loading for Russell Wilson, but it won't matter if the Chiefs take advantage of the worst defense in football. This season, Kansas City has only broken 30 points against the hapless Bears defense, but would have hit 30 if Patrick Mahomes had stayed on his feet to end the game against the Jets. Even with the chaos that always seems to come from Thursday Night Football, the Chiefs need to show a dominant offensive performance before they begin planning for the Chargers with a few extra days to rest up.
Prediction: Chiefs 34, Broncos 17
Jordan Foote: One of the Chiefs-Broncos games this year seems to be a potential "trap" one, but it isn't Week 6. Expect Kansas City's offense to look solid against what's been the worst defense in the NFL through five weeks, and look for Steve Spagnuolo's defense to settle in during the second half against a resurgent Russell Wilson and company. I'm not entirely convinced the home team will cover here, but they'll come pretty close. The Chiefs score multiple offensive touchdowns in this one and the wide receivers have at least one player deliver a surprise performance, with the opposite unit doing enough to secure a comfortable victory.
Prediction: Chiefs 30, Broncos 21
Mark Van Sickle: The Chiefs should win this game by a wide margin. They are double-digit favorites over the Denver Broncos, a team that has largely been a disaster this season. It is a divisional game, and anything can happen, but it’s been eight years since the Broncos last beat the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes has never lost to them, and I don’t expect that to change tonight. The Chiefs' defense has been great and the Chiefs' offense has the capability to dominate when it's clicking. Playing against a Broncos defense that gave up 70 points to the Dolphins a few weeks ago, I expect a big win tonight in Kansas City. Naturally, that means the Chiefs will likely win a squeaker and not cover the spread, but I’m still picking them to win in a blowout.
Prediction: Chiefs 45, Broncos 10
Zack Eisen: This game is a checkpoint of the Chiefs’ season for many reasons. First, it is the first divisional matchup for Kansas City of the year. Second, the team gets a mini-bye after playing on Thursday night, which should help with lingering nicks and bruises. Finally, the Chiefs' defense will get back its second most talented pass rusher, Charles Omenihu, from suspension following this game. The Chiefs should be able to take care of business on Thursday night and reap the benefits of having extra time off. They are playing against statistically the worst defense in the league, which should help continue to build the young offense’s confidence.
Prediction: Chiefs 37, Broncos 20
Conner Christopherson: When it comes like this, you want to see blowouts, right? The Chiefs were able to dispatch the Bears in their one mismatch of the year, but I feel this one will be a bit closer. Even for a disaster class in the Broncos, they will probably give some extra oomph when it comes to playing the Chiefs. Russell Wilson, especially, looks better this year than last but that is being masked by a truly historically awful defense. I am dialed in, once again, on the Chiefs' wide receivers and specifically if the snaps of Rashee Rice and Justyn Ross increase. It is time for the Chiefs to try some things at the position, and who better to do it against than one of the worst defenses in the league?
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Broncos 20
Marlow Ferguson Jr.: With three AFC West duels over the upcoming 18-day span — including two against Denver — the Chiefs will have an opportunity to put an early stranglehold on an eighth-straight division crown. It's worth wondering what Denver's mental make-up is, fresh off of another second-half collapse, trade rumors and the worst defensive DVOA in NFL history over five weeks.
Perhaps there's a pathway to compete if the Chiefs' ailing stars (i.e. Travis Kelce) aren't healthy enough on a short week, disrupting Kansas City's offensive rhythm. Even so, it's just not smart business investing against the Chiefs, both 4-1 and on a 15-game winning streak against Denver. The Chiefs' stout defense, a healthy dose of Isiah Pacheco against the NFL's worst run defense and enough Mahomes magic should be enough to suffice.
Prediction: Chiefs 26, Broncos 16
