Chiefs vs Broncos: Game Preview, Odds, Picks & Prediction
KC's Playoff Road Map Dictated By First-Ever Game 17
The Chiefs tune up for the playoffs by trying to defeat their AFC West-rivals Broncos for a 13th consecutive time. Kansas City is a heavy favorite in the NFL odds to do so after seeing an eight-game win streak halted last Sunday in Cincinnati, thus losing the inside track to No. 1 seed in the conference.
Game: Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) at Denver Broncos (7-9)
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver CO
Day/Time: Saturday, Jan. 8th, 4:30 p.m. ET
Television: ABC/ESPN
Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
| Kansas City | -11 (+105) | -480 | 44 (-110o) |
| Denver | +11 (-125) | +380 | 44 (-110u) |
Head-to-Head
Kansas City continued their mastery of Denver with a 22-9 triumph in Week 13. The Chiefs have been favored in the last seven meetings after covering as an 8½-point choice. Kansas City took out the spread for good when Harrison Butker kicked a 45-yard field goal with 5:35 remaining in the third quarter. Under players that bet online made an easy score against a 46½-point total as the low has been the way to go in four of the last five meetings.
Kansas City Chiefs
Next game: Playoffs, opponent TBA
Last Game
Chiefs fell to No. 2 in the AFC west with a 34-31 loss at Cincinnati as a 3½-point favorite in the Las Vegas odds. The visitors led, 28-14, after Darrel Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run-his second of the game-with just over two minutes remaining before halftime. The Chiefs had a chance to get the ball back at their 1-yard line with under a minute to play in a tie game, but a penalty on fourth down gave Cincinnati a fresh set of downs. The Bengals then kicked a chip-shot 20-yard field goal as time expired. The game easily went over the total of 51.
Injury Report
The club suffered a significant blow on the offensive line as tackle Lucas Niang sustained a season-ending knee injury. The team was also without tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who sustained a calf injury during pregame warmups. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (collarbone) is questionable after missing the Cincinnati contest.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed the worst for OT Lucas Niang following the loss to the #Bengals in Week 17. https://t.co/7XVzjDxDmj
— Chiefs Wire (@TheChiefsWire) January 3, 2022
Denver Broncos
Next game: Next season
Last Game
Denver Broncos were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a dreary 34-13 loss to the Chargers in Los Angeles. An 8½-point underdog, the Broncos were done early as the Chargers went ahead, 10-0, in the second quarter. However, the total of 45 remained in play until Drew Lock threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Noah Fant with 6:31 left, leapfrogging the number.
Injury Report
With concussed quarterback Teddy Bridgewater expected to miss his third game, Drew Lock is expected to start against Kansas City. Lock left the Los Angeles game with a shoulder injury, but returned. The club had 14 players on the COVID-19 list last week 17.
Betting on the Game
For this first-ever Week 18, Kansas City needs a win, coupled with a Tennessee loss at Houston, to reclaim the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. A loss and a Cincy win over Cleveland drops the Chiefs to the Nl. 3 seed.
Kansas City opened as a 12½-point favorite, but bettors jumped hard on Denver, quickly lowering the number by 2½ before it moved back in the direction of the fave. The Chiefs had won six straight ATS before losing last Sunday. The last four Chiefs games have gone over, and the ‘high’ has won five straight on the road against losing teams. The Broncos, meanwhile, have lost three straight ATS, with a dozen of their 16 games staying under.
NFL predictions don’t come much easier than this as the Chiefs should be plenty motivated-especially after last week’s loss-to clinch the No. 2 seed, guaranteeing two home games before a potential rematch with the Titans.
