KC Chiefs Vs Denver Broncos: Battle Of Injured Teams

The KC Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos today, and neither team is necessarily healthy.

It’s Week 10 in the NFL, and the Injury Reports read like a novel. Today’s Kansas City Chiefs game is more of the same, and the Chiefs must take advantage of a weakened Denver Broncos team.

For the Chiefs, the big ones are still Jamaal Charles and Phillip Gaines. We know that much.

But this week, Kansas City will be without defensive tackle Allen Bailey and offensive lineman Ben Grubbs. Rookie linebacker Ramik Wilson is questionable, while Mike DeVito is probable as he recovers from a concussion. (KCChiefs.com)

The biggest loss there is probably Bailey, who’s been a force along the defensive front all season. Bailey has 4.5 sacks on the season, and he’s an absolute monster in the run game. Just ask Adrian Peterson, who faced Bailey in Week 6:

Peterson said DT Allen Bailey threw him to the ground. Peterson: "I was able to feel the force that he has. That guy is extremely strong."
— chipscoggins (@chipscoggins) October 18, 2015

Chiefs will miss him today, whether DeVito plays or not. Rookie tight end James O’Shaughnessy fractured his foot, and he’ll miss the game today.

For the Broncos, the Injury Report gets even messier.

Cornerback Aqib Talib was suspended one game – he’s out. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware was ruled out due to back injury, and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is questionable with an ankle injury. Sanders didn’t practice at all this week, so there’s a real chance he doesn’t play today. (DenverBroncos.com)

More from KC Kingdom

Handicappers seem to have this matchup as one of the lowest scoring games this week. Both teams are without a lot of its best talent, and it’s an AFC West matchup in mid-November, so you can see where the smart guys in Las Vegas are coming from.

The Chiefs have an opportunity to catapult themselves right into the Wild Card discussion if they beat the Broncos this week. It’s not every week you catch Denver without Talib, Ware and maybe Sanders. It’s a team that’s not at full strength, and the Chiefs must take advantage of that.

For the first time this season, the biggest concern for the Broncos might be that defense that has been so consistent for them throughout the first nine week, according to Adam Malnati over at FanSided’s Predominantly Orange blog:

"Of course, after last week’s collapse of composure, the biggest concern shift to worries about the Broncos being able to stay cool under pressure. The defense had been the savior all season. Heading into the Chiefs game, for the first time all year, they are a question mark."

The Chiefs offense has certainly picked itself up over that past couple weeks, and if it’s a weakened Broncos defense they have to take advantage of, then so be it.

Next: Chiefs: What To Expect From Second Half Of Season

The Chiefs will take a victory any way they can get it. High scoring, low scoring, injured, healthy, in Arrowhead or at Mile High. It doesn’t make any difference. Kansas City pushes itself right into the middle of the Wild Card discussion with a victory today.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs