Chiefs-Broncos players to watch, and if you want to win in this series get a star QB
Chiefs-Broncos hasn’t been as much a rivalry as it has a series of dominating quarterbacks that supplant each other over a period of time.
Currently, Patrick Mahomes rules the rivalry, as Peyton Manning, John Elway and Len Dawson did before him.
The Chiefs have won 14 straight in the series, and Mahomes has started the previous 10 games. His first NFL start came in Denver in 2017. His latest is Sunday’s game at GEHA FIeld at Arrowhead Stadium with the franchise’s seventh straight AFC West title clinched.
There have been plenty of close calls for the Chiefs, including three weeks ago when the Broncos rallied from 27-0 down to fall 34-28. Still, it’s been all Chiefs since the second encounter of 2015.
That game was the first loss against the Chiefs in Manning’s time with the Broncos. He won his first seven games against the Chiefs from 2012 until 2015, when the Broncos won their fifth straight division that season and the Super Bowl.
Elway (1983-98) didn’t own the Chiefs as much as he drove them nuts with late heroics. Elway’s 17-12 career record against the Chiefs included six fourth quarter comebacks, the most he posted against any team.
Dawson got the Chiefs off to a fast start in the series by going 21-4 against Denver from 1962, the last year of the Dallas Texans, until his retirement in 1975.
Every quarterback played in and has won at least one Super Bowl. Dawson, Elway and Manning are in the Hall of Fame and Mahomes will be. Want to get the upper hand in Chiefs-Broncos? Get a superstar quarterback.
That’s what the Broncos believed had happened when they acquired Russell Wilson after last season. It hasn’t panned out yet.
Here are players besides Mahomes and Wilson who could have an impact on this week’s matchup:
Chiefs center Creed Humphrey
After being selected as an alternate as a rookie last season, Humphrey was named to the Pro Bowl this year and sounds like a Pro Bowl veteran: “Hopefully we’re in Arizona (at the Super Bowl) instead of being in Vegas. But it’s definitely a big accomplishment.” Humphrey, guard Joe Thuney and tackle Orlando Brown Jr. were selected to the team and Trey Smith could have made it four Chiefs offensive lineman honored.
Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton
The Chiefs defense is coming off one of its best games this season in the victory over the Seattle Seahawks, and several made outstanding plays. Bolton was the consistent force throughout the day. His 18 tackles set a career high and he sits third in the NFL in tackles this season.
Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy is a favorite target of Wilson — they hooked up for three touchdowns against the Chiefs in the first meeting — and he went to bat for his oft-criticized quarterback this week. “I just wanted to get it out in the air that he is a good teammate and that he is a hard-working teammate,” Jeudy said. “And I just feel like I need to get that out there because there’s a lot of false narratives going around here that I’m getting tired of.”
Broncos linebacker Josey Jewell
Jewell continues to have two career interceptions: Both against Mahomes in the previous game. Since Jewell’s second pick that day Mahomes hasn’t thrown an interception. Jewell is having an excellent season, averaging 10.5 tackles per game.
