Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Halftime Observations for the Chiefs

With the Raiders taking down the Chargers on Thursday night, this division matchup is crucial to the division standings.

If the Denver Broncos win this meeting, they will be just one game behind first place with some serious momentum. If the Kansas City Chiefs can stop Tim Tebow and company, they will vault themselves into the No. 1 spot in the AFC West.

Either way, this game has large playoff implications.

Let's take a look at some first-half observations and a few keys to getting the Chiefs back into the win column:

1) Stack That Box

Of the Broncos' first 32 plays, only four of them were passes but that didn't stop the Broncos from averaging six yards per carry in the first half.

With Tebow running the option most of the time in the shotgun, it's confusing to see the Chiefs not expecting the run at all times...unless they are and simply can't stop it.

Because the Broncos have been able to succeed on the ground, the Chiefs need to put up points, and quick. The longer the Broncos can move the chains in the second half, the less time the Chiefs will have to make up the deficit.

Stack the box, stop the run and get into the end zone.

2) Protect the Cassel

The Chiefs' offense hasn't gotten much started in the first half, and one of the biggest reasons is because linebackers D.J. Williams and rookie Von Miller have been in beast mode all day, not giving Matt Cassel much time to throw.

The Broncos have been able to get into the backfield with ease, and they already have four tackles for losses. If Cassel doesn't get more time to throw the ball, he could be in for a long second half.

Cassel can make all the throws, and now that he has Jon Baldwin paired up with Steve Breaston and Dwayne Bowe, he absolutely has the weapons. He needs to show that he knows how to utilize those weapons.

3) Man Coverage

On the two passing plays the Broncos ran in the first half, the corner coverage has been excellent. Tebow doesn't appear to have the arm to get the ball behind the defense, even if the receiver is.

If the cornerbacks keep playing the ball like that, the Chiefs' defense should be able to hold up. The second half will be up to the offense.