NFL Sunday Night Football: Broncos/Chiefs Preview

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Dec 06, 2020
The Sunday night game on NBC features a rematch between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. The reigning Super Bowl champions won the first meeting between these two teams on October 25th with a 43-16 victory in Denver as a 7-point favorite.

Kansas City is cruising on their way to winning the AFC West with a six-game winning streak. With their 10-1 record, the Chiefs are hot on the trails of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently hold the top seed in the AFC playoff race with their undefeated record. Only the number one seeds in both conferences are awarded byes in the first round of the playoffs, given the new expansion to a seventh team.

Kansas City defeated Tampa Bay on the road last Sunday by a 27-24 score as a 3.5-point favorite. The Chiefs went into the fourth quarter with a 27-10 lead before the Buccaneers scored two touchdowns in the final 15 minutes.

Patrick Mahomes led the offense to 543 yards in the victory. He completed 37 of his 49 passes for 462 yards with three touchdown passes while adding another 28 yards on the ground. Mahomes is completing 68.8% of his passes this season for 3497 yards with 30 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. He has also rushed for another 215 yards with two touchdowns.

Denver lost their third game in their last four games last week in a 31-3 loss at home to New Orleans in a game where all three of their quarterbacks were unavailable to play because of COVID protocols. Wide receiver Kendall Hinton came off the practice squad to attempt nine passes in that game but completed only one for 13 yards. He also tossed two interceptions. The Broncos managed only 112 yards of offense without a credible passing threat.

With a 4-7 record, Denver’s playoff hopes are slim. They trail Indianapolis and Miami for the final spot in the AFC playoff race by three games. The Broncos begin a stretch where three of their next four games are on the road.

Drew Lock will be back under center after being cleared from COVID quarantine. He may be playing for his job the rest of the season after completing only 55.6% of his passes for 1767 yards with a 6.6 yards-per-attempt average. Lock has only thrown seven touchdown passes while tossing 11 interceptions.

Denver will be without their best cover cornerback after Bryce Callahan was placed on Injured Reserve with a foot injury this week. He joins linebacker Von Miller, defensive linemen Jurrell Casey and Mike Purcell, and wide receiver Courtland Sutton who are already on IR. Safety Trey Marshall is out with a shin injury. Running back Phillip Lindsay, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, and linebacker Malik Reed are all listed as questionable but with the signs indicating they will play.

Kansas City only has running back Clyde Edwards-Hellaire on their Injured List after he missed the last two practices with a non-COVID illness. He will be a game-time decision. Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz remains on the IR.

BetAnySports lists the Chiefs as a 13-point favorite with the total set at 51. Kickoff is at 8:20 PM ET.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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