The Kansas City Chiefs' schedule won't get any easier after the bye week. Andy Reid and the troops will kick the tires for a road date at Mile High with the Denver Broncos, and divisional games are always complicated.
To add insult to injury, Sean Payton's team has added another weapon for Bo Nix. And, while he's not a superstar by any means, he's familiar with the system and will be another playmaker to keep an eye on. According to a report by ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the Broncos signed WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey.
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The Broncos will continue to roll with Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin as the starters on the outside. Marvin Mims Jr. is listed as questionable and could play, but he missed last Thursday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders, so they might want to take things lightly with him.
The 27-year-old Humphrey played under Coach Payton with the New Orleans Saints. Then, he followed him to Denver to sign with the Broncos, making a name for himself with his special teams and blocking skills. The Broncos failed to retain him, and he joined the New York Giants instead.
He wasn't much of a factor in the Big Apple, but he could be a plug-and-play starter on Sunday. He had 44 receptions for 445 yards and four touchdowns in 34 games before leaving, and he gives Bo Nix another big body to test the Chiefs' secondary.
Even so, the offense might not be Kansas City's biggest concern right now. Nix has regressed tremendously in his second year in the league, and while the Broncos are riding a seven-game winning streak, it hasn't been thanks to him.
Denver currently ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of points per game (23.5, 17th), total yards (341.2, 19th), and passing yards (206.0, 18th). They do run the ball excellently (128.6, 9th), but starting RB J.K. Dobbins is dealing with a foot injury and might miss the game.
The Broncos' defense, on the other hand, has been spectacular. They're holding teams to just 91.2 rushing yards, the fourth-fewest in the league, and they're giving up 17.3 points per game, the third-fewest. This will be a stout challenge for Patrick Mahomes, especially without Isiah Pacheco and with Josh Simmons just getting his legs back under him.
Given what we know Denver's defense is capable of, exactly what an offensive mind like Payton is able to put together for a skilled athlete that he's quite familiar with in Humphrey will be worth paying attention to this Sunday.