Kansas City vs Denver NFL Handicapping
Well, it all comes down to this for a resurgent Broncos team. This game is not exactly short in the story line department either. The most notable one has to be the fact that new Kansas City quarterback, Kyle Orton has the chance to keep the team that cut him earlier this year, out of the playoffs.
When: Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, 4:15 PM EST
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
TV: CBS
LINE: -3(Denver), O/U 37.5
Meanwhile, the Broncos need only to win this game to assure their unlikely trip back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
Two weeks ago, the Tim Tebow-led Broncos looked to have had a playoff spot sewn up in the midst of their six game winning streak. And things looked even more promising when they jumped out to a two score lead against the New England Patriots. They were up in that game 16-7.
Since that time, the Broncos have been outscored 74-21 in just seven quarters of action. To say the wheels have came off , may be a bit of an understatement here.
Then you have the Chiefs. A team that is so unpredictable. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
First they were able to end the Green Bay Packers unbeaten season a couple of weeks ago behind their new quarterback, and then were unable to convert a field goal as time expired, and eventually lost in overtime to the Raiders, blowing their shot a securing a playoff spot. Kind of ironic how they were seconds away from clinching it for the Broncos, and now they can take it away in sixty minutes.
So what can we expect in the season finale.
Well for one, the Kansas City defense is going to struggle mightily on Sunday. They are already one of the bottom tier running defenses in the NFL. When you add the Broncos rushing offense into the equation, which is the number one rushing unit in the league, things start to look a little uneven.
However, the silver lining for the Chiefs, is that the Broncos do not exactly have a top tier defense to slow down their new passing attack behind, Orton. This looks like it could actually be a pretty high scoring affair, on paper at least.
Games like this usually never live up to that billing, but with this much on the line, and the revenge factor for Orton, anything can happen.
Matt’s Panegyric Prognostication: Chiefs 23, Broncos 21–I expect the Chiefs will walk into Denver and come away with a hard fought win earned in the closing minutes. Which leaves the door open for the Raiders to sneak into the playoffs. The Broncos poor defense, combined with the inconsistencies of “the Mile-High Messiah”, lead me to believe they just do not have what it takes to cap off their improbably run.
