A lot of the talk around Sunday’s Broncos-Chiefs matchup has centered on the usual stuff: offense, defense, matchups, and who has the cleaner path to control the game. But Denver may have its clearest edge in a place that doesn’t always get enough attention.
Special teams.
That’s where the Broncos can separate themselves, and it starts with the kicking game. Harrison Butker has been unreliable enough that the Chiefs brought in Justin Tucker on the practice squad as competition, and Tucker has apparently been functioning as something of a de facto kicking coach while the two compared notes.
Wil Lutz, by contrast, has been steady for Denver. He hasn’t been flashy, but he has been knocking through the “short” 40-50 yard field goals that Butker has been missing. And if this game turns into one of those tight, late-field-goal situations, Lutz could absolutely be the guy deciding it again.
That matters even more because neither offense has been consistently explosive. The Chiefs did control the first meeting with running back Kenneth Walker III, but that edge is expected to be reduced, and Denver’s tackling, as many have pointed out, couldn’t possibly be worse.
There’s also an advantage for the Broncos at punter. Chiefs punter Matt Araiza has the kind of leg that can flip the field when he’s on, and he’s certainly capable of changing possession in a field-position battle.
Still, Denver’s Jeremy Crawshaw stands out in one very specific area. He’s probably the best positional punter in the NFL right now, and if the Broncos need someone to pin opponents inside their own 20-yard line, Crawshaw can do it.
The return game may tilt Denver’s way too, largely because of Marvin Mims Jr. He hasn’t popped the long return everyone expects to see from him eventually, but this could be the week it happens.
And then there’s the altitude, which could shape the whole kicking conversation. With long field goals potentially in play from 60 yards and in, at least in theory, both coaches may be more cautious on fourth down than usual.
In Other News...
Broncos Need Jaylen Waddle In Massive Chiefs Showdown
Jaylen Waddles availability has become one of the biggest subplots heading into Denvers Week 8 trip to Kansas City. The Broncos wide receiver first dealt with a chest injury in Week 6, then aggravated it in a later game, leaving him questionable for a matchup that already carries plenty of weight. Denver has every reason to want him on the field, especially with Waddle having been targeted 45 times this season and already serving as a central part of the passing game.
The timing matters even more because the Chiefs are not at full strength on defense, with several key players either ruled out or on injured reserve. If Waddle can go, he should be involved early and often as Denver tries to take advantage of the matchup and keep pace in a game that could shape the AFC West race. For now, though, the Broncos are waiting to see whether their top receiver can answer the bell. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Still Have A Real AFC West Opening Even If Sunday Hurts
The Broncos have spent the past month living with little margin for error, and Sundays Week 8 matchup carries the kind of weight that can change the shape of their season. Denver has already taken two losses since Week 4, but the broader picture still looks workable, especially with a schedule that should give Sean Paytons team chances to steady itself if it can avoid letting one setback turn into a slide.
Kansas City remains the standard in the AFC West, but the Chiefs do not have a clean path either, and that matters for a Broncos team trying to hang around in the division race. Denver has also shown under Payton that it can usually answer losses the right way, which is why this game feels less like a season-defining final judgment and more like another test of whether the Broncos can keep the door open. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Have A Real Chance To Make Week 8 A Statement Vs Chiefs
The Broncos have spent enough time around this matchup to know it carries a little extra weight, especially at home, where Denver has been able to make things uncomfortable for Kansas City during the Sean Payton era. With Week 8 approaching, the conversation is less about chasing a perfect formula and more about whether the Broncos can lean into the parts of their roster that have traveled well against a division rival that has not looked quite as airtight as usual.
Jonah Coleman has given Denver another layer to work with in the offense, and his presence has helped shape the kind of balance the Broncos will need if they want to turn this into more than just a competitive showing. The Chiefs still bring the usual challenge, but the gap feels narrower than it has in some past meetings, which is why this game has the feel of a real opportunity for Denver to make a statement without fully revealing yet how far that edge can go. [Read more 🡒]