Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos: Full Denver Game Preview

Coming off their first loss of the season, the Denver Broncos (7-1) are looking to get back on track against the Kansas City Chiefs (3-5).

The Chiefs will come to Denver off of their bye week, having not played a game since a 45-10 thrashing of the Detroit Lions in London on Nov. 1. They will be looking to avenge a 31-24 loss to the Broncos in Week 2. In that game, the Broncos used a 21-yard interception by Bradley Roby with less than 30 seconds left to seal the victory.

It left fans in Kansas City stunned.

Since that time, the Chiefs have lost four of six games, falling four games behind the Broncos in the AFC West division. That makes them a team that will be hungry for a win on Sunday, knowing that a loss likely ends any hope of a postseason appearance.

The Broncos have not lost to the Chiefs since January 2012, and Peyton Manning has won every game against them since coming to Denver.

Here, we will provide a full preview of this game, complete with the latest injury news and key matchups to keep an eye on. For that, click forward.

Location: Sports Authority Field, Denver

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Week 9 Recap

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After a 29-10 complete victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 8, the Broncos traveled to Lucas Oil Stadium to face a struggling Indianapolis Colts team. The Broncos were looking to defeat the team that ended their season in the divisional round of the playoffs last year.   

Instead, the Colts found a way to beat the Broncos again, handing them their first loss of the season in the process.

The Broncos allowed the Colts to find success on 12 of 20 third-down conversions, and the defense had trouble getting off the field as a result. The Colts finished with nearly 39 minutes in time of possession.

Offensively, Peyton Manning threw two interceptions, increasing his league-leading total to 13 for the season. On top of that, the running game struggled all day. The Broncos called just 14 run plays, gaining only 35 yards on the ground.

Still, Denver had a chance to get the ball back and win the game in the end, but costly penalties put an end to that. The Colts had the ball for the final six minutes of the game en route to a 27-24 victory.

In the process, Andrew Luck improved his career record against Manning and the Broncos to 3-1.

News and Notes

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Aqib Talib Suspended for One Game

Because of his actions toward the end of the game against the Colts, Denver cornerback Aqib Talib will miss Week 10. The league chose to suspend Talib for allegedly poking Colts tight end Dwayne Allen in the eye deliberately.

A subsequent appeal by Talib was denied, according to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver.

Talib apparently made the decision to poke the eye of Allen out of frustration, but it was a terrible choice. Not only does it cost him a game, but it's something that has no place in the league.

Peyton Manning Set to Break Record

Manning needs just three yards to break the NFL's all-time career passing-yardage mark currently held by Brett Favre. Manning will likely break the record on the first pass he completes against Kansas City, eclipsing the 71,838 yards posted by Favre.

Though Manning would surely trade all of his personal records for another Super Bowl victory, this is an impressive record that should stand for quite some time.

Expect a representative from the Pro Football Hall of Fame to be on hand to gain possession of the record-breaking ball, which will likely be on full display in Canton, Ohio, the very next day.

T.J. Ward Hit with Pair of Fines

According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, the league has decided to fine Denver safety T.J. Ward for multiple infractions from Week 9. 

A hit on Indianapolis wide receiver T.Y. Hilton in the first quarter drew a 15-yard penalty after officials ruled that the contact initiated by Ward came against a defenseless receiver. The league chose to levy a fine as well.

But it didn't stop there. It also tacked on a fine to Ward for not having his shirt tucked in. In total, Ward will have to fork over $23,063.

"I had my jersey untucked. I've had it that way all season and all the sudden they decided to fine me", said Ward in the report provided by Klis. 

Latest Injury News

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DeMarcus Ware left the game against Indianapolis with a back issue, and it appears that injury could keep him out for as many as four weeks, as reported by NFL.com's Dan Hanzus, citing NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.

However, there was some encouraging news at Wednesday's practice. Rookie outside linebacker Shane Ray returned to the practice field, according to Andrew Mason of the team's official website.

As Mason noted, Ray has a chance to return to the field on Sunday, and much of that decision will hinge on how he performs in Thursday's practice. It would perfect timing for Ray to return, as it would help fill the void left by Ware.

With Shaquil Barrett and a healthy Ray, the pass rush may not miss a beat.

Manning will likely find himself on the team's official injury report this week. The quarterback watched in sweatpants from the sidelines on Wednesday, as Mason reported he was resting a sore foot.

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and tight end Owen Daniels also sat out practice on Wednesday, per Mason. Sanders was resting a sore ankle, while Daniels is nursing separate ailments in his shoulder and knee. There is no indication that either player will miss the game against Kansas City.

Finally, wide receiver Jordan Norwood is still recovering from a hamstring injury that has forced him to miss the team's last two games. His status for the game will likely be determined later in the week.

Key Matchups

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Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall vs. Charcandrick West

While Charcandrick West is no Jamaal Charles, he has been productive in his absence. In Week 2 against the Broncos, Charles ran for 125 yards and a touchdown. In the Chiefs' last two games—both victories—West has averaged 24 touches, scoring a touchdown in each game.

The Broncos will have to do a better job than they did in Week 2 in containing the running back of the Chiefs, and much of that responsibility could fall on inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall.

Both players are solid tacklers, and they'll need to limit the yards West gains, particularly if he tries to leak out for a screen pass.

Denver Pass Protection vs. Justin Houston

In Week 2, Kansas City outside linebacker Justin Houston recorded two sacks of Manning. That was before Denver lost Ty Sambrailo for the season. 

The Chiefs, looking to get a big hit on the quarterback or a turnover, will use Houston to try to get past backup tackles Ryan Harris and Tyler Polumbus.

The Broncos should plan to line up with two tight ends frequently, using a guy like Virgil Green to chip in and help protect against the dangerous Houston.

Bradley Roby vs. Albert Wilson

The Chiefs are not a team that throws the ball down the field much, but with Talib out, look for them to take their chances.

Bradley Roby should get the start in place of Talib, and he'll likely draw the assignment of second-year receiver Albert Wilson. Though Wilson is a name many may not be familiar with, he is becoming a more frequent target in Kansas City's passing attack.

Wilson has three catches in each of Kansas City's last three games, and he has two catches of 40 yards or more this season. Though Roby won't be an easy guy to beat, look for the Chiefs to try.

X-Factor Player

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Broncos X-Factor Player of the Week: Bradley Roby

Talib will not play in this game, but Roby is not a very big downgrade. The 23-year-old could have a huge day, particularly if the Chiefs try to pick on him with Chris Harris Jr. on the other side of the field.

With that said, the Chiefs are quite familiar with what Roby can do. After all, it was he who scooped up Charles' fourth-quarter fumble and raced 21 yards for a touchdown to win the game in Week 2.

Currently, Pro Football Focus ranks Roby at No. 26 out of 111 cornerbacks in terms of pass coverage. That's not bad for a guy the Broncos are having to throw into a larger role to replace a suspended player.

Kansas City better be wary of Roby. If the Chiefs make the mistake of thinking they can exploit a young second-year cornerback, they have another thing coming. Roby will be up to the challenge.

At the same time, where do the Chiefs go with the ball? The Broncos have strong defenders at nearly every position, so Alex Smith could try to force throws against Roby. If he does, look for Roby to make him pay for them.

Prediction

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

Is there any chance the Broncos lose two games in a row? Sure there is. Division rivals are always tough to beat, particularly when one team is looking for a season sweep.

The Chiefs will be fighting for the rest of their season, knowing that a loss puts them at 3-6, five games out of the AFC West division race and a likely spot in the comfort of their homes when the NFL playoffs start.

With an extra week to prepare, expect Chiefs head coach Andy Reid to have a solid game plan in place, one that will keep things simple for Smith and his offense.

The Chiefs will probably try to beat the Broncos the same way Indianapolis did—by controlling time of possession and wearing out the defense. The Broncos will need to dominate the game on the defensive side of the ball, getting off the field on third downs.

Offensively, the only worry is whether the offensive line can block Houston. Manning moved the ball with ease at times against the Chiefs in Week 2, and the offense has gotten much better since that time. He should have similar success in this game.

The Chiefs would like to keep this game low-scoring, but if the Broncos can get up by multiple scores at any point, Kansas City will have a tough time getting back into it.

Following a tough loss to the Colts, look for the Broncos to come out more focused in this game, possibly making an example out of the Chiefs.

Final Prediction: Broncos 27, Chiefs 10