Kansas City Chiefs: Getting to know Denver Broncos before Week 7

On a two-game losing streak, the Kansas City Chiefs head to Denver to take on the Broncos on a short week this Thursday night. Let’s get to know the 2019 Broncos a little bit better.

In the offseason, the Denver Broncos not only made a head coaching change, canning Vance Joseph and replacing him with Vic Fangio, but they also switched quarterbacks, acquiring Joe Flacco from Baltimore while parting ways with journeyman Case Keenum after just one season.

The results so far: a four-game losing streak to start the year followed by back-to-back wins over the Chargers and Titans. Now at 2-4, the Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football.

To get to know the Broncos better, I’ve reached out to Tylor Walden, one of the two site experts over at Predominantly Orange, FanSided’s site devoted solely to the Broncos. A big thanks to Ty for answering my questions, which are as follows:

Question 1: After losing four in a row to start the season, the Broncos have won two straight thanks to a stifling defense that’s allowed a combined 13 points against the Chargers and Titans. How can the defense keep that going Thursday night?

Walden: They will need to slow down the Chiefs offense. Holding them to 13 points would be amazing, but it is difficult. This might be the game where the Broncos will need to match them point for point. It will be important for the team to be off to a fast start.

Question 2: [Running backs] Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman by far and away lead Denver [in] total touches. Will Denver look to keep that going against the Chiefs?

Walden: Yes. I have noticed that the Chiefs do not have a strong defense, especially against the run. They have allowed 150 or more rushing yards over the last four games. It will be important for the Denver Broncos to run the ball early and often. If they can get the ball rolling on the ground, I can see this being a win.

Question 3: Early thoughts on new head coach Vic Fangio?

Walden: It was a bit of a struggle, but there were bound to be some growing pains in the first year. He has put together two wins in a row and it is looking promising. As long as he can continue this trend, he should be okay for the Broncos going forward.

Question 4: And what about new starting quarterback Joe Flacco?

https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1184287847123165186

Walden: He has his up and down days, but has looked solid so far in 2019. Like Fangio, it takes time for a quarterback to adjust to a new team, new system, all that jazz. He can play well to give his team the win. But the entire team needs to come together.

Question 5: Do you envision a quarterback controversy when (or if) rookie Drew Lock comes off IR?

Walden: I do not for the time being. It is really going to come down to where the Denver Broncos are in terms of their record. If the team starts to struggle and the playoffs are out of reach, then Lock comes in. If not, then Flacco stays.

Question 6: With Bradley Chubb down for the year, who’s stepping up for the Broncos in the pass rush?

Walden: Malik Reed and Justin Hollins. Reed more than Hollins because of the injury that Hollins is dealing with. Not major, but Reed has also shown more promise. But the team is getting other contributors in the pass rush from defensive linemen to inside linebackers. It seems they are all stepping up in Chubb’s absence.

Question 7: Through six weeks, Von Miller only has 2.5 sacks. Do you see him turning that around against the Chiefs’ ravaged offensive line?

Walden: I believe so. But then again, [Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick] Mahomes is going to be difficult to bring down. That is not saying he is invincible, but it seemed he slips away from the Broncos a lot. I see Miller getting to Mahomes at least one time.

Question 8: The AFC West looks rather clustered compared to where it was this time a few weeks ago. How can the Broncos keep going as they have been?

Walden: It starts with this match-up against the Chiefs. If they can get the win on Thursday, Denver is looking at games against the Colts and Browns that are winnable going into the bye week. If they can win these next three games and go into the bye at 5-4, it’ll be possible to keep themselves going. A win against KC puts Denver only one game back in the west. Anything can happen then.

Question 9: Outside of Denver’s running backs, can you give Chiefs fans some names of a couple of offensive skill players to watch?

Walden: Courtland Sutton is one to keep an eye on. He has performed well as far as a playmaker alongside Emmanuel Sanders. I think he could be a solid contributor to the offense for a long time to come.

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And there you have it.

What it boils down to is this: the Denver Broncos are riding high thanks to a dominant defense, which could prove trouble for a Kansas City Chiefs team that’s struggled on both sides of the ball in the past couple of weeks. Given that this is a road game on a short week, it’s looking tough for the Kansas City Chiefs to rebound to avoid a third straight loss.

Can the Chiefs do it? Sure.

Will they? We’ll find out soon enough.