Broncos Face Five Key Questions With Chiefs Coming To Town

The Denver Broncos have a rallying cry for their game Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, and it’s “we owe them one.” The Broncos got stomped by the Chiefs, 31-10, in their season opener, and they’ll be looking to rebound in a big way. 

Jeff Legwold and Nate Taylor of ESPN took on five questions each for their respective teams on Sunday, and here’s what Legwold had to offer for the Broncos. 

How important is this game for Denver?

It’s probably more important for the Broncos than the Chiefs, as Denver struggled with a tough schedule early and got exposed on offense. Tie-breakers matter here, per Legwold, and the Broncos really need a season split here. The Broncos also have a softer schedule going forward, so a win against Kansas City could spark the kind of run that took Denver all the way to the AFC Championship Game last season.

Has the Broncos’ tackling improved since Week 1?

Well, it couldn’t have been much worse, as Legwold noted, so the answer is “yes.” What the Broncos have done incredibly well is hit the quarterback, but they’ll need to prioritize getting running back Kenneth Walker III to the ground, which means studying the Seattle tape carefully and sending tacklers at Walker in waves. The Broncos defense is undersized, so this will be a huge factor.

Is Bo Nix fixed? 

Not completely, but the quarterback had some moments against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, especially during that 62-yard touchdown run. Nix also made some high-risk throws into coverage that could easily have been interceptions, though, so the Chiefs will be looking to replicate what they were able to do in Week 1, when rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane opened the game with a big pick during Denver’s first series. 

Who’s back in the Broncos secondary?

That would be cornerback Pat Surtain II, who’s been recovering from an ankle injury for the last couple of weeks. Safety Talanoa Hufanga will still be out, though, as he’s also recovering an ankle injury. The good news here is that slot corner Ja’Quan McMillian continues to improve and make plays, so expect him to be a factor as well. 

Who will be the X-factor for Denver?

Legwold chose rookie running back Jonah Coleman, which was an excellent selection. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry against Arizona, and coach Sean Payton has said he’ll get more touches. The Broncos will probably stick with J.K. Dobbins to start, but it would be shocking if he gets the lion’s share of the carries given what he’s done vs. Coleman’s track record to date.