The Kansas City Chiefs will look to get back in the win column on Sunday afternoon with a divisional showdown against the Denver Broncos.
Here are five things to keep in mind heading into game day.
1. Here's a look at the final injury report for both teams.
The Chiefs listed cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (knee), cornerback Mansoor Delane (shoulder) and edge-rusher R Mason Thomas (personal) as "Questionable" for Sunday's game, although Head Coach Andy Reid spoke confidently about Thomas' availability.
Regarding Delane, Reid said they'll "just see how he does here going forward."
Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, who returned to practice this week from last season's ACL injury, was the only player ruled out for Sunday.
In some good news, neither wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring) or offensive tackle Jaylon Moore (concussion protocol) have an injury designation heading into Sunday's game.
As for Broncos, they'll be without tailback RJ Harvey (knee) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle) on Sunday while offensive tackle Garett Bolles (hip), defensive tackle Zach Allen (hamstring), safety Brandon Jones (hamstring) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (chest) are all listed as "Questionable."
2. The Broncos have allowed an average of just 18.3 points-per-game since Week 2.
Kansas City scored 31 points on Denver in Week 1, but the Broncos' defense – the NFL's No. 3 scoring unit last year – has resembled its former self in the time since.
The Broncos own the league's No. 4 scoring defense over their last six matchups, holding opponents to an average of just 18.3 points-per-game. Denver's pass-rush has been a major factor behind that success, posting a league-most 21 sacks for the season, and edge-rusher Nik Bonitto – who racked up 14 sacks in 2025 – is coming off a 13-pressure performance against Arizona last week.
Denver's pass-rush looks a little different than when the Chiefs last saw it, too, as edge-rusher Jonathan Cooper returned last week following a stint on the NFL Commissioner's Exempt List to begin the season. Cooper played 45 snaps in his season debut and figures to be on the field quite a bit on Sunday.
Denver is one of just two teams to allow 90+ rushing yards in seven games this year, however, and keep in mind, Kansas City rushed for 220 yards against the Broncos in Week 1.
A similar performance on Sunday would go a long way toward keeping Denver's high-octane pass-rush off balance.
3. Denver's offense has been living off the short passing attack this year.
The Broncos have won four of their last five games since falling to Kansas City in Week 1, but somewhat remarkably, they've done so while posting the league's No. 30 total offense at just 270.0 yards-per-game – the lowest average for any team to start 5-2 or better since the 2000 Detroit Lions.
Denver has generated the fewest plays of 10 or more yards among all teams this season, and the Broncos' 31% conversion rate on third down is the second-lowest in the NFL, but the primary way they've moved the ball – and that's with yards after the catch – is of particular focus on Sunday because of how last week transpired for Kansas City.
The Chiefs entered last week's game as one of the league's best teams in terms of securing tackles, but Seattle – as part of an 11-of-16 night on third down – forced numerous missed tackles on Sunday night, often extending drives that otherwise may have ended. Notably, four different members of the Chiefs' defense missed multiple tackles in that game.
So, facing a Broncos team that has recorded 64% of quarterback Bo Nix's passing yards after the catch on Sunday, which marks the second-highest rate of any quarterback, Kansas City needs to quickly recapture the success it found early in the year when it came to not missing tackles. Nix completed a throw to tailback RJ Harvey behind the line of scrimmage last week against Arizona, for example, that Harvey then took for a 52-yard touchdown. Kansas City simply cannot let instances like that take place on Sunday.
The Chiefs were tremendous in that area back in Week 1, when Kansas City held Denver to just 176 total yards and a 2-for-12 mark on third down, yielding just four first downs across the Broncos' final 10 possessions. The Chiefs' ability to do so again will likely dictate the outcome of the game.
4. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes can make some more history on Sunday.
Mahomes can write yet another chapter in his ever-growing book of accolades on Sunday.
The veteran quarterback is 39-8 in AFC West matchups for his career, and with a win, he would become the fastest quarterback since the AFL-NFL merger to 40 divisional victories, breaking the record currently shared by Tom Brady and Joe Montana.
Mahomes is also currently 20-3 in divisional road games for his career, marking the best winning percentage (.870) for any quarterback since the merger (among those with at least 15 divisional starts).
He'll have an opportunity to add to those numbers on Sunday.
5. As far as Week 8 matchups go, this is a big one.
It's only late October, but as far as mid-season games go, this is a pretty significant one.
Kansas City currently possesses a half-game lead over Denver for first place in the AFC West, and with a win on Sunday, the Chiefs would not only build a two-game lead in the loss column, but also secure the head-to-head tie-breaker for the season.
The mandate all offseason was about reclaiming the AFC West after falling short last year, and while it's only Week 8, Kansas City can take a major step toward that goal on Sunday.
