In the preseason, a Week 17 game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs looked like it could have playoff implications, possibly for the AFC West crown. Instead, the Broncos have collapsed, firing their head coach, while the Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West and are looking to earn the No.1 seed.
Last week was the nail in the coffin for first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired after the Broncos lost 51-14 to the Los Angeles Rams. The Chiefs continued to play with their food, allowing the Seattle Seahawks to hang around before eventually closing out the 24-10 win.
Let’s check the latest NFL odds, stats, injury reports, and NFL lines for Broncos vs Chiefs. We’ve plenty of Vegas NFL odds and NFL week 17 picks for you to consider.
Broncos vs Chiefs Betting Lines
Broncos: Life Without Hackett
Hackett may not have been the only problem with the Broncos, but he is the first casualty of this terrible season. It was hard to watch what happened last week against a 10-loss Rams team and not want to bring about change.
The defense has been the one bright spot, allowing the fifth-fewest yards and seventh in points allowed. It often has kept Denver in games, but in the first game since being eliminated from playoff contention, the defense did not look like themselves.
However, arguably the biggest problem for the defense has been the offense and Russell Wilson. His two interceptions on the opening drives put the Rams in a great field position, leading to touchdowns and an early 17-0 lead. Wilson also threw a pick-six in the fourth quarter.
The team looks lifeless and maybe a new lead voice can change that, but the issues of Wilson are still there.
Chiefs Gotta Stay Out of Their Own Way
Yes, the Chiefs beat the Seahawks with no real problem, dominating the whole game, but they seem to be running into the same problem they have every season. Due to how good the team is, with Patrick Mahomes leading the way as the front-runner for league MVP honors, they often stall in the middle of games.
They put up 17 points easily in the first half against Seattle and did not score again until under five minutes left in the game. However, the defense played a big part in keeping the Seahawks relatively at arm’s length. Unlike the last two weeks, when the offense hit its mid-game lull, the defense held its own by keeping the Seahawks to three points for all but the game’s final three minutes.
The defense allowed 28 and 24 points to the Houston Texans and the Broncos in the prior two weeks. Neither is among the better offenses in the NFL. However, they kept the Seahawks out of the end zone until late in the game, with the young defense starting to solidify. Kansas City recorded two sacks and seven QB hits, with Chris Jones having at least half of those. The defense also forced one interception.
Broncos vs Chiefs Game Injuries
Broncos vs Chiefs Head-to-Head
The Chiefs have dominated the Broncos, having beaten them 14 straight times dating back to 2015.
Broncos vs Chiefs Game Information
- Game: Broncos vs Chiefs
- Date/Time: Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. EST
- Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
- How to watch Broncos vs Chiefs? CBS
Broncos vs Chiefs Live stream: NFL Game Pass
Broncos vs Chiefs Game Weather Conditions
The temperatures will be a little warmer compared to last week, with a high of 51 degrees and partly cloudy.
Broncos vs Chiefs Picks & Prediction
Predicted score: Chiefs 31, Broncos 10
- Worth Betting on the Moneyline?
The Chiefs are too big of a favorite to make the money line worth a bet, and it seems unlikely that the Broncos will somehow pull off a massive upset.
- Worth Betting ATS?
Two touchdowns is a huge spread, and the Chiefs have the offense to make that happen. The only problem is that the offense takes off a few drives every game at this time of the season. It seems up to the Broncos’ offense, which is also something you can’t have hope in.
- Worth Betting on the Totals?
Similar to the ATS, if the Chiefs’ offense hits a lull, we know that the Broncos’ offense has not been good, which could lead to the under. However, last week, the Broncos defense could not stop much, and the Chiefs are a much more formidable opponent, leading to the possibility of a big offensive game for Mahomes.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
