Broncos Eye Rare Win in Kansas City as Chiefs Limp Toward the Finish Line
For the first time in over a decade, the Denver Broncos are heading into Arrowhead Stadium not just with hope - but with the odds squarely in their favor. A win in Kansas City on Christmas night would snap a 10-year drought for the Broncos at Arrowhead, and given the current state of the Chiefs, it would hardly be considered an upset.
Let’s start with the obvious: Kansas City is reeling. At 6-9 and officially out of the playoff picture, the Chiefs are facing their first meaningless December game since 2012 - the final year of Romeo Crennel’s short-lived tenure.
That season ended with a 2-14 record and ushered in the Andy Reid era. Since then, the Chiefs have been a model of consistency and dominance, particularly against Denver.
But now, with Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew both sidelined due to knee injuries, Kansas City is down to Chris Oladokun and Shane Buechele at quarterback - two names that don’t exactly strike fear into opposing defenses.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are 12-3, riding high under Sean Payton, and sitting comfortably in the playoff mix. They’re favored by 13.5 points - a rare sight on the road in Kansas City, especially on a national stage. But Payton isn’t buying into the hype or the spread.
“We don’t really pay attention to that,” Payton told reporters this week. “We try to stay in touch with the game. This game specifically - every one of these players understands the significance of where we’re at with two games left in the season.”
Payton emphasized the importance of staying focused during a short week, referencing the condensed three-day prep window. He noted the potential for both teams to revisit plays they didn’t use in their previous meeting, especially with some carryover in schemes and personnel. It’s a coach’s way of saying: don’t overlook the opponent, no matter how battered they might be.
Still, there’s no ignoring the reality. The Chiefs are banged up, out of the hunt, and for the first time in years, playing without the swagger that’s defined their run under Reid and Mahomes.
The last time Kansas City played a game without postseason implications? You’d have to go back to before Mahomes even took a snap as a starter.
And while the Broncos haven’t won at Arrowhead since 2015, they came painfully close last season - losing on a last-second blocked field goal that snatched victory from their grasp. This time, the matchup feels different.
Denver is surging. Kansas City is stumbling.
And the holiday timing might only add to the Chiefs’ challenges. Between the distractions of Christmas and the recent announcement that the team will leave Arrowhead after the 2030 season, the energy at the stadium could be far from electric.
For Kansas City fans, it’s unfamiliar territory. After five Super Bowl appearances in six years, the expectation has been greatness - or at least relevance - deep into December. Now, the Chiefs are simply playing out the string, with a patchwork roster and little more than pride on the line.
As for the national audience tuning in on Prime Video, the draw might not be the Chiefs' offense or a thrilling back-and-forth battle. It could be the rare sight of Kansas City on the wrong end of a lopsided game - something we haven’t seen much over the past decade.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this league, it’s that strange things happen when expectations are at their lowest. Whether the Chiefs can muster one last stand or the Broncos finally break their Arrowhead curse in emphatic fashion, we’ll find out under the lights on Christmas night.