Injury Report:

[IMG]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/kc.png&h=100&w=100[/IMG]
[TABLE=”class: yui3-datatable-table, width: 700″]
[TR=”class: yui3-datatable-odd”]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-player yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell, align: right”]James Berry[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-position yui3-datatable-cell, bgcolor: transparent, align: center”]S[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-injury yui3-datatable-cell”]Heel[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-practiceStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Did Not Participate In Practice[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-gameStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Doubtful[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[IMG]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/den.png&h=100&w=100[/IMG]
[TABLE=”class: yui3-datatable-table, width: 700″]
[TR=”class: yui3-datatable-even”]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-player yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell, align: right”]Tramaine Brock[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-position yui3-datatable-cell, bgcolor: transparent, align: center”]CB[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-injury yui3-datatable-cell”]Thigh[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-practiceStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Limited Participation in Practice[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-gameStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Doubtful[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: yui3-datatable-odd, bgcolor: #D9D9D9″]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-player yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell, align: right”]Jake Butt[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-position yui3-datatable-cell, bgcolor: transparent, align: center”]TE[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-injury yui3-datatable-cell”]Knee[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-practiceStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Did Not Participate In Practice[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-gameStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Out[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: yui3-datatable-even, bgcolor: #ECECEC”]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-player yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell, align: right”]Adam Jones[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-position yui3-datatable-cell, bgcolor: transparent, align: center”]CB[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-injury yui3-datatable-cell”]Thigh[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-practiceStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Limited Participation in Practice[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-gameStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Questionable[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: yui3-datatable-odd, bgcolor: #D9D9D9″]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-player yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell, align: right”]Brandon Marshall[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-position yui3-datatable-cell, bgcolor: transparent, align: center”]LB[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-injury yui3-datatable-cell”]Knee[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-practiceStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Limited Participation in Practice[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-gameStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Questionable[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: yui3-datatable-even, bgcolor: #ECECEC”]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-player yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell, align: right”]Dymonte Thomas[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-position yui3-datatable-cell, bgcolor: transparent, align: center”]S[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-injury yui3-datatable-cell”]Abdomen[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-practiceStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Limited Participation in Practice[/TD]
[TD=”class: yui3-datatable-col-gameStatus yui3-datatable-sorted yui3-datatable-cell”]Questionable[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD][IMG]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/den.png&h=100&w=100[/IMG][/TD]
[TD]
Broncos[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Offense
[TABLE=”class: Table2__table__wrapper”]
[TR]
[TD=”class: v-top”][TABLE=”class: Table2__table-fixed Table2__Table–fixed–left Table2__table”]
[TR=”class: Table2__header-row Table2_ Table2__even”]
[TH][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]QB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]RB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]WR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]WR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]TE[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]FB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]LT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]LG[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]C[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]RG[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]RT[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[TD=”class: v-top”][TABLE=”class: Table2__table-scroll”]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE=”class: Table2__table-scroller Table2__table”]
[TR=”class: Table2__header-row Table2_ Table2__even”]
[TH]Starter[/TH]
[TH]2nd[/TH]
[TH]3rd[/TH]
[TH]4th[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Case Keenum[/TD]
[TD]Paxton Lynch[/TD]
[TD]Chad Kelly[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Devontae Booker[/TD]
[TD]Royce Freeman[/TD]
[TD]De’Angelo Henderson[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Demaryius Thomas[/TD]
[TD]Jordan Taylor O[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Emmanuel Sanders[/TD]
[TD]Courtland Sutton[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Jake Butt IR[/TD]
[TD]Jeff Heuerman[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Andy Janovich[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Garett Bolles[/TD]
[TD]Menelik Watson Q[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Ronald Leary[/TD]
[TD]Max Garcia[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Matt Paradis[/TD]
[TD]J.J. Dielman Q[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Connor McGovern[/TD]
[TD]Billy Turner[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Jared Veldheer[/TD]
[TD]Cyrus Kouandjio[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

3-4 Defense
[TABLE=”class: Table2__table__wrapper”]
[TR]
[TD=”class: v-top”][TABLE=”class: Table2__table-fixed Table2__Table–fixed–left Table2__table”]
[TR=”class: Table2__header-row Table2_ Table2__even”]
[TH][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]LDE[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]NT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]RDE[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]LOLB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]LILB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]RILB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]ROLB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]SS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]FS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]RCB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]LCB[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[TD=”class: v-top”][TABLE=”class: Table2__table-scroll”]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE=”class: Table2__table-scroller Table2__table”]
[TR=”class: Table2__header-row Table2_ Table2__even”]
[TH]Starter[/TH]
[TH]2nd[/TH]
[TH]3rd[/TH]
[TH]4th[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Derek Wolfe[/TD]
[TD]DeMarcus Walker[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Domata Peko Sr.[/TD]
[TD]Zach Kerr[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Clinton McDonald[/TD]
[TD]Adam Gotsis[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Bradley Chubb[/TD]
[TD]Shane Ray[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Brandon Marshall Q[/TD]
[TD]Zaire Anderson[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Todd Davis[/TD]
[TD]Josey Jewell[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Von Miller[/TD]
[TD]Shaquil Barrett[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Justin Simmons[/TD]
[TD]Su’a Cravens IR[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Darian Stewart[/TD]
[TD]Will Parks[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Chris Harris Jr.[/TD]
[TD]Brendan Langley[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Bradley Roby[/TD]
[TD]Tramaine Brock D[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Special Teams
[TABLE=”class: Table2__table__wrapper”]
[TR]
[TD=”class: v-top”][TABLE=”class: Table2__table-fixed Table2__Table–fixed–left Table2__table”]
[TR=”class: Table2__header-row Table2_ Table2__even”]
[TH][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]PK[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]P[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]H[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]PR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]KR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]LS[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[TD=”class: v-top”][TABLE=”class: Table2__table-scroll”]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE=”class: Table2__table-scroller Table2__table”]
[TR=”class: Table2__header-row Table2_ Table2__even”]
[TH]Starter[/TH]
[TH]2nd[/TH]
[TH]3rd[/TH]
[TH]4th[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Brandon McManus[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Marquette King[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Marquette King[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Jordan Taylor O[/TD]
[TD]Emmanuel Sanders[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Devontae Booker[/TD]
[TD]Carlos Henderson[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR=”class: Table2_ Table2__tr–sm Table2__even”]
[TD]Casey Kreiter[/TD]
[TD]Christian Kuntz[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Sorry about the alignment. ESPN changed their formatting. I’ll try to have it fixed next week.

Chiefs vs. Broncos: Game Preview
From Chiefs.com

Posted Sunday, Sep 30, 2018 01:08 AM

[TABLE=”width: 250″]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Matt McMullen
Chiefs Reporter
Chiefs.com@KCChiefs_Matt[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

When it comes to rivalries in professional sports, it doesn’t get much better than this.

They’ve been playing one another for 58 seasons, minting some of the most memorable moments in the history of the National Football League along the way.

There was Joe Montana’s touchdown pass with just seconds remaining in 1994, Dante Hall’s unforgettable kickoff return in 2003, the clash on Thanksgiving in 2006 and Cairo Santos’ game-winning field goal just two seasons ago.

The list goes on, and with the nation watching, the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will go at it once again on Monday night at Mile High.

Kansas City is in the midst of its most successful run over Denver in more than 40 years, winning each of the last five meetings between the two teams while scoring at least 27 points in all of them.

For context, the Broncos have allowed that many points just eight other times since 2015 – and never to the same team more than once. The Chiefs, meanwhile, have managed to do so in five consecutive contests.

Of course, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is responsible for one of those performances, leading Kansas City to a three-point victory over Denver in his first-career start as a professional.

[IMG]http://chiefscrowd.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1020&stc=1[/IMG]

Mahomes threw for 284 yards in that game, authoring an 11-play, 62-yard drive in just under two minutes to set up Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal with just seconds remaining.

It was a thrilling finish to an otherwise inconsequential game, providing a glimpse into the next chapter of Chiefs’ football.

And just three games into the 2018 campaign, that future has arrived.

The 23-year-old Mahomes leads the league in touchdown passes (13), passer rating (137.4) and throws of at least 25 yards (25) this season, all without throwing an interception. His 13 scoring strikes are the most through three games in NFL history, and overall, Kansas City is the first team to open the season with at least 38 points in each of its first three games since the 2007 New England Patriots.

It’s simply been the top offense in the NFL, but Mahomes isn’t getting caught up in the hype.

“There’s still room for a ton of improvement,” Mahomes said. “There’s still [times] that I might not go to the right read or we might have a bust in the route running or protection might break down. That just speaks to the guys that we have that can still make plays. We have a lot of room for improvement. We’ve gotten compared to some of those [great] offenses, but it’s still early in the season. We still have to do a lot of things and prove a lot of things.”

Mahomes’ favorite target through three weeks has been tight end Travis Kelce, who’s hauled in 16 catches for 229 yards and two touchdowns already on the year. The three-time Pro Bowler has tallied triple-digit receiving yards in each of his last two games, and for whatever reason, Kelce always seems to play his best when lining up against the Broncos.

The 29-year-old tight end has caught 26 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns in his last three games against Denver, recording at least 100 yards receiving in each of them. In fact, Kelce is the only player since 2009 to notch multiple 100-yard performances against the Broncos’ heralded pass defense.

He’s certainly a player to watch on Monday night.

Of course, the Chiefs have a few dynamic offensive playmakers of their own.

Seven different players have caught a touchdown already for Kansas City, matching the Chiefs’ total from all of last season.

That includes wide receiver Tyreek Hill, whose 263 yards from scrimmage rank fourth in the NFL, and tight end Travis Kelce, who caught a pair of touchdowns in last Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wide receivers Chris Conley, Demarcus Robinson and De’Anthony Thomas, tailback Kareem Hunt and fullback Anthony Sherman have also all caught a touchdown through the air, forming a truly unique aerial attack.

It’s simply been the top offense in the NFL through the season’s first two weeks, with each player putting their own accolades aside in the name of collective success.

“The only thing we want our guys to understand is, ‘What can we do to help us win?’ Because when it’s all said and done, it’s not the stats that are celebrated…in this industry, you are celebrated by the alphabets – and the most important [letter] is the W,” said Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy. “We just want to make sure that collectively we are focused on that, and that’s all that matters.”

Another player who’s enjoyed his fair share of success over Denver is wide receiver Tyreek Hill, with four touchdowns in just three career games. Interestingly enough, each of Hill’s last three performances against Denver have been in primetime, contributing to an even larger trend.

The speedy Hill has played in 10 regular-season primetime contests during his brief professional career and has scored a touchdown in all but two of them, finding the end zone 11 times overall.

“I just like playing under the lights because it reminds me so much of playing in front of my hometown, like Friday Night Lights,” Hill said last season. “I’m always trying to make that big play under the lights because everyone’s watching.”

Hill, Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs’ offense will have another opportunity to make those big plays on Monday night, but in order for Mahomes to get the ball in his playmakers’ hands, he’ll need to avoid one of the league’s top pass-rushers in linebacker Von Miller.

“You always have to know where he is,” Mahomes explained. “They move him around, they try and get him different ways he can rush the passer and make plays. The thing with their defensive front is they have weapons all over the [place], so you always have to know where Von is, but you need to have a plan for their whole defense.”

That defense includes players like linebacker Bradley Chubb (1.5 sacks), the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 Draft, and University of Missouri product Shane Ray (1.0 sack), but it all starts with Miller.

The eight-year veteran has gotten to the opposing quarterback four times already this season – tied for the most in the NFL – setting up another classic battle between Miller and All-Pro right tackle Mitchell Schwartz.

“They go back and forth and challenge each other – it’s a fun matchup to watch,” said Head Coach Andy Reid. “They get after each other. I was there for the [Jon] Runyan and Michael Strahan [matchups] and it’s kind of like that. Von is a heck of a player, he is going to get you every once in a while, and Mitch is a good player, so that’s a fun matchup.”

In addition to a dynamic pass-rush, the Broncos also feature a top-flight run defense, holding opponents to an AFC-low 77.7 rushing yards per game.

On the other side of the ball, Kansas City’s defense will look to slow down a Broncos’ offense that has a new face under center. Denver signed quarterback Case Keenum this past offseason after the five-year veteran led the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC Championship Game last season, but the results have been mixed so far in 2018.

The 30-year-old Keenum has thrown five interceptions to just three touchdowns, posting a 71.6 passer rating through three weeks. Furthermore, Keenum has particularly struggled in the first half of games this season, compiling a quarterback rating of 66.7.

That makes for an interesting matchup with the Chiefs as a whole, who have outscored opponents 73-43 in the first half of games this year.

Though despite some up and down performances thus far, Keenum was still one of the best passers in all of football last season and has a dynamic stable of playmakers at his disposal.

Keenum’s top weapons on offense include mainstay wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders (19 catches for 269 yards) and Demaryius Thomas (16 catches for 144 yards) in addition to a triumvirate of three impressive rookies.

Tailbacks Royce Freeman (36 carries for 152 yards) and Phillip Lindsay (33 carries for 198 yards) lend their talents to a formidable rushing attack while wide receiver Cortland Sutton (5 catches for 91 yards) has chipped in some big plays of his own.

It all makes for yet another significant test as the Chiefs put their perfect record on the line under the lights on Monday Night Football. Catch the game on ESPN at 7:15 CT.

Chiefs, Broncos players to watch: Keep an eye on RB Royce Freeman
From The Kansas City Star

By Brooke Pryor
bpryor@kcstar.com
September 30, 2018 02:36 PM
Updated September 30, 2018 02:36 PM

DENVER–The Chiefs and the Broncos are squaring off in prime-time Monday night. Here’s four players you should watch.

No. 25 Chris Harris Jr., CB

29 years old, 5-10, 199 pounds, 8th season

Harris is one of the final holdovers from the Broncos’ vaunted No Fly Zone. He’ll likely be responsible for guarding Tyreek Hill. So far this season, Hill has 14 catches for 310 yards — averaging 22.1 yards per catch — and three touchdown catches. Containing the speedy wide receiver will be a tough task for Harris, and Harris even said after Thursday’s practice that Hill is “easily” the hardest Chief to cover. A year ago, though, the Broncos held Hill to just 38 yards in the Oct. 31, 2017 meeting. But that time around, the team had help from Aqib Talib, who’s with the Rams now.

No. 28 Royce Freeman, RB

22 years old, 6-0, 238 pounds, 1st season

The Broncos’ rookie rushing tandem is part Freeman and part Phillip Lindsay. While Freeman has been overshadowed by Lindsay, the undrafted, hometown kid, Monday night could be his time to have a breakout game. Though he’s behind Lindsay on the depth chart, Freeman seems to be a favorite red zone weapon with two touchdowns to Lindsay’s none. The Chiefs have allowed 103.3 rushing yards per game in the last three weeks. Freeman could also be a factor on special teams. He had a blocked punt against the Ravens.

No. 55 Dee Ford, OLB

27 years old, 6-2, 252 pounds, 5th season

The outside linebacker missed the first practice of the week with a groin strain suffered against the 49ers. But he was back Friday as a limited participant, and he fully participated in Saturday’s practice. After a battling a back injury last season, Ford has been healthy and effective through the first three weeks of 2018. He has two sacks for a loss of 13 yards — already matching last year’s total. He also has six quarterback hurries. Entering last week’s game, Ford had nine quarterback pressures, good for sixth among edge rushers in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. At a time when the Chiefs rank 29th in the NFL with just six sacks this season, Ford’s health is especially important.

No. 71 Mitchell Schwartz, OT

29 years old, 6-5, 320 pounds, 7th season

Schwartz holds the key to Mahomes’ health Monday night. The right tackle is just about the only thing separating linebacker and heat-seeking missile Von Miller from the Chiefs’ quarterbacks. Schwartz has been successful against Miller before. Miller hasn’t recorded a sack against the Chiefs in the last three meetings between the two teams. Through three games this season, Miller has four sacks. Meanwhile, Mahomes has only been sacked four times this season, and Schwartz’s protection is a big reason why he’s stayed pretty clean.

Chiefs-Broncos prediction: Can Andy Reid’s high-flying team
keep rolling in Denver?

By Blair Kerkhoff
bkerkhoff@kcstar.com
September 30, 2018 02:48 PM

Blair Kerkhoff’s prediction: Chiefs 33-27

Fun fact: With this game, the Chiefs will have played in four time zones in four weeks. Denver is the first opponent to see Patrick Mahomes twice, so there is some muscle memory on both sides here. Opposing quarterbacks have combined to complete 69.5 of their passes against Denver, and Mahomes leads the NFL in touchdown throws, with 13, and in passer rating. But this will be the best defensive team he’s seen. Case Keenum will be the fourth Broncos quarterback in four years to start against the Chiefs in Denver. The Chiefs have won five straight in the series, and the winner will be the AFC West leader. Make it the Chiefs.

I was checking out the orange main forum this afternoon and they were all talking about “how can we beat the Chiefs?” The fans that aren’t brain-dead had the right answer: “We can’t.” The rest were divided into two camps.

1. “Don’t worry. Their defense sucks. We’ll put up 30 points easy and our defense will do enough to win.”

They don’t understand that our defense only sucks when we are ahead by double digits. When the game is within 7 points we have the 2nd best defense (yards per play) in the NFL.

and 2. “Hurt Mahomes. Blitz, blitz, bliz. Pressure him and he’ll turn the ball over.” (He hasn’t, YET!) Some of them were even suggesting it would be worth getting a penalty for roughing or a late hit if it takes Mahomes out of the game.

You know the Donks are going to try to play dirty, tonight. Hopefully our O line can continue to protect him. And I hope they do blitz … a lot! It will make it that much easier for Pat to set the NFL record for the most TD passes through FOUR games.