{"id":5861,"date":"2024-11-10T12:21:45","date_gmt":"2024-11-10T12:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=5861"},"modified":"2024-11-10T12:21:45","modified_gmt":"2024-11-10T12:21:45","slug":"report-5-things-to-watch-as-the-chiefs-host-the-broncos-in-week-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=5861","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: 5 things to watch as the Chiefs host the Broncos in Week 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now contending for an AFC playoff berth, Payton and the Broncos are hoping to upset the Chiefs again \u2014 this time with rookie quarterback Bo Nix at the helm. Denver is also looking for a bounce-back performance after Week 9\u2019s 41-10 road loss\u00a0to the\u00a0Baltimore Ravens.<\/p>\n

Here are five things to watch in this AFC West showdown.<\/p>\n

1. Maintaining a rhythm in the Chiefs\u2019 passing attack<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Tampa<\/picture><\/span><\/span>Photo by David Eulitt\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/span><\/figure>\n

Over the last two games, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has\u00a0completed 74% of his passes\u00a0and thrown five touchdowns (against one tipped-up interception) as he led an offense that\u00a0converted 71% of its third-down attempts.<\/p>\n

While the rhythm established since wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins entered the picture is obvious, the Broncos have shown the ability to slow that momentum. When targeted,\u00a0Pro Football Reference\u00a0says that Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II has\u00a0allowed a passer rating of just 55.4\u00a0this season, while\u00a0leading the team in interceptions (3) and passes defended (6).<\/p>\n

He leads a Broncos pass defense that has\u00a0allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards per game (186.6)\u00a0this season. Since it may be harder to manufacture open space for Hopkins (and tight end Travis Kelce) on Sunday, it will test Mahomes\u2019 patience to continue his clean play through consistently tighter coverage.<\/p>\n

2. Protecting Patrick Mahomes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Tampa<\/picture><\/span><\/span>Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/span><\/figure>\n

Against the\u00a0Tampa Bay Buccaneers\u00a0on \u201cMonday Night Football,\u201d Kansas City\u2019s quarterback was sacked a season-high four times. This doomed several possessions where the team could have scored. Incredibly,\u00a0PFF didn\u2019t charge any offensive linemen with a sack; each one happened because Mahomes held onto the ball for a long time.<\/p>\n

In truth, it was one of left tackle Wanya Morris\u2019 cleaner performances of the season. Over a season-high 82 snaps, he not only kept Mahomes clean, but committed no penalties; in the previous game, he had been flagged four times.<\/p>\n

This speaks to the talent on Tampa Bay\u2019s interior defensive line. Defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey were relentless, eventually getting to Mahomes on longer dropbacks. The Broncos also have pass rushers to watch; Denver\u00a0has the league\u2019s second-most sacks.<\/p>\n

Defensive lineman Zach Allen\u00a0leads the team in quarterback hits (17)\u00a0\u2014 primarily rushing from inside \u2014 but edge rusher Nik Bonitto\u00a0tops the unit with six sacks. Edge rusher Jonathan Cooper and tackle Jonathan Franklin-Myers (who have combined for 9.5 sacks) will also be working to penetrate the protection.<\/p>\n

3. Making life hard on Bo Nix<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"DENVER<\/picture><\/span><\/span>Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post<\/cite><\/span><\/figure>\n

The Broncos\u2019 rookie quarterback has started all nine games this season \u2014 and has certainly had impressive moments. However, the Broncos\u2019 scoring output has been the lowest against the toughest competition:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • 6 points against the\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers<\/li>\n
  • 10 points against the\u00a0New York Jets<\/li>\n
  • 16 points against the\u00a0Los Angeles Chargers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Those three teams\u00a0rank among the league\u2019s top 10 in points allowed\u00a0per game. The Chiefs are also in that group. Shutting him down will start up front by pressuring Nix on dropbacks; he has the\u00a0lowest yards per attempt under pressure (4.2) among full-time starting quarterbacks\u00a0this season.<\/p>\n

    Defensive tackle Chris Jones and his teammates will be smelling blood in the water \u2014 but those opportunities will be set up by the defense continuing to be strong against the run. Kansas City\u00a0leads the league in first-down rushing yards per attempt (3.2).<\/p>\n

    4. Patching up holes in coverage<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \"Tampa<\/picture><\/span><\/span>Photo by Michael Owens\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/span><\/figure>\n

    Over the last two games, the Chiefs\u2019 pass defense has appeared to feel the absence of cornerback Jaylen Watson. To put it simply, there has been room for opposing quarterbacks to throw downfield.<\/p>\n

    Tight ends have also been a problem for Kansas City\u2019s defense \u2014 but Denver doesn\u2019t have a consistent presence at that position. Third-year player Lucas Krull \u2014 a native of Kansas City suburb Shawnee, Kansas \u2014 is the team\u2019s\u00a0leading tight end with eight catches for 75 yards.<\/p>\n

    And outside of No. 1 receiver Courtland Sutton, the Broncos have a mixed bag of pass-catchers and skill levels; the Chiefs\u2019 coverage should be able to handle the challenge.<\/p>\n

    But Denver could present defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo with a tough decision: how to best utilize cornerback Trent McDuffie\u2019s elite coverage skills \u2014 because Sutton may not be the best individual matchup for McDuffie. Cornerback Joshua Williams\u2019 size and physicality, however, may make him the cornerback best suited to cover Sutton \u2014 and prove his value to the secondary.<\/p>\n

    5. More rotation at running back<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \"Tampa<\/picture><\/span><\/span>Photo by Jamie Squire\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/span><\/figure>\n

    Kansas City\u2019s starting running back Kareem Hunt\u00a0has had at least 21 carries in four consecutive games\u00a0\u2014 and he\u00a0opened the week on the injury report\u00a0as a\u00a0limited\u00a0participant with a quad injury. While he was upgraded to a\u00a0full\u00a0participant \u2014 and will play against Denver \u2014 he\u2019s flirting with pains that could add up. The Chiefs need to be proactive about preventing those.<\/p>\n

    In this season\u2019s small sample size, running back Samaje Perine has proven to be a capable ball carrier, showing the same bruising, pushing style that Hunt has used to keep the Chiefs ahead of the sticks.<\/p>\n

    And since rookie Carson Steele may still be lingering in the dog house from two fumbles early in the season, it would be a good time for veteran Clyde Edwards-Helaire to return. After working through his PTSD issues \u2014\u00a0which he discussed in Friday\u2019s episode of \u201cThe Pivot\u201d podcast\u00a0\u2014 he\u2019s been on the 53-man roster for a few weeks. So far, though, the team hasn\u2019t had the roster room to make him active on a game day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Now contending for an AFC playoff berth, Payton and the Broncos are hoping to upset the Chiefs again \u2014 this time with rookie quarterback Bo Nix at… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5862,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nREPORT: 5 things to watch as the Chiefs host the Broncos in Week 10 - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=5861\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"REPORT: 5 things to watch as the Chiefs host the Broncos in Week 10 - 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