Broncos vs. Chiefs: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

The Kansas City Chiefs not only want revenge against the Denver Broncos on the Week 13 edition of Sunday Night Football, the hosts want to create a first-place tie in the AFC West in the process.

Manning and the Broncos sit alone atop the division for the time being, but a close call against these same Chiefs back in Week 2 gives this contest an aura that it could be one of the best the season as a whole has to offer.

Granted, Kansas City enters off an upset at the hands of Oakland, but it was just two weeks ago Denver experienced a hiccup of its own with a loss to St. Louis.

Sunday night in cold, noisy Arrowhead Stadium, much will be decided about the race to the playoffs.

Grounding it Out

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

Manning may reside under center, but Denver wants to run the ball—a lot.

Last week, the league's 21st-ranked rushing attack, which has featured a hodgepodge of names such as Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman, rushed 35 times for 201 yards and a score. C.J. Anderson is the starter now and found 167 yards and that score.

The idea is to take the pressure off Manning, especially on the road in the cold.

"Obviously, we would rather be running it than passing it, but we have a guy that can pass it pretty good," center Will Montgomery said, per STATS LLC (via ESPN.com). "So, to be effective in the long run we need to do both, and we can do both."

Kansas City knows a thing or two about effective ground games.

The Chiefs rank fourth in rushing this year thanks to the efforts of Jamaal Charles and backup Knile Davis. Charles has 772 yards and eight scores on the ground, while Davis has been quite effective when asked to carry the load.

Davis did just that in the 24-17 loss in Denver back in Week 2. The former Arkansas star rushed for 79 yards and two scores on 22 opportunities with Charles mostly out of the picture. Keep in mind that same Denver defense still ranks No. 2 in the league against the rush.

The motive for Kansas City remains the same each time out with the ground game being such a strength, but it sure does not hurt to keep Manning on the bench as the offense grinds out first downs. If Andy Reid's team is to move into first place, it will need to pull off another strong performance against a great rush defense.

Flight Deterrent

Manning is in the midst of another incredible season, not that anyone expected any different from him at this point. He has 3,558 yards and 34 touchdowns to just nine interceptions.

But the desire to run the football more than ever this week has the same reasoning as it did the week prior—to avoid an elite pass defense.

Miami ranks fourth against the pass this season. Kansas City ranks No. 1 in the league in this regard, although the unit will now be without star safety Eric Berry, who is lost for the season.

Still, Manning and Co. were certainly watching last week when the one-win Oakland Raiders bruised their way to 179 rushing yards and two scores against a Chiefs defense that now ranks 26th against the rush.

While it seems counterintuitive to get the ball out of Manning's hands, he has downright struggled on the road this season. All three of Denver's losses have come away from home, with Manning throwing five touchdowns to five interceptions in that span.

Arrowhead Stadium can be one of the more difficult places for teams to win. With Manning struggling on the road and the team slowly discovering a running attack, it makes sense that the Broncos would want to match the Chiefs blow-for-blow on the ground.

When: Sunday, November 30, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Watch: NBC

Betting Info: (via Odds Shark)

• Over/Under: 49.5
• Spread: Denver (-1.5)

Team Injury Reports

Player	Pos.	Status
Ronnie Hillman	RB	Out
Montee Ball	RB	Out
Julius Thomas	TE	Questionable

Player	Pos.	Status
Donnie Avery	WR	Probable
Anthony Fasano	TE	Questionable
Junior Hemingway	WR	Questionable
Kevin Vickerson	DT	Questionable

Injury info will be updated once released, via ESPN.com.

Prediction

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

The Broncos do not inspire a ton of confidence right now. 

Road issues aside, the team is one week removed from allowing 36 points to a Miami team that is similar to Kansas City in a lot of ways.

At home, with a pair of healthy backs and a strong pass defense, the Chiefs can put together a winning formula against a struggling defense to split the season series with Denver.

Look for Kansas City to grind out a win after gaining a lead late in the second half. Forcing Manning to the air in this particular matchup is more ideal than it sounds for the hosts.

Prediction: Chiefs 27, Broncos 24

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).