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Published on 09/24/2008 at Wed Sep 24 08:26.
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Warning Shots: Kansas City Chiefs

Posted Wed Sep 24th by

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Quick Facts: With a win this Sunday, Mike Shanahan’s career win total would be 150. As it stands Shanahan is 149-95 (.611) for his career. This will be the 96th time that the two teams have met, Denver is actually a loser in the series overall (43-52-0). Denver’s running back Selvin Young has registered 100 yard games both times that he has played Kansas City. Denver currently leads the league in scoring (38.0 avg.) and touchdowns (14), the exact amount posted by the New England Patriots last season after three games. Jay Cutler is ranked second in the NFL in passing yards (914) and touchdowns (8). Brandon Marshall is ranked first in the NFL in receiving (24 receptions, 321 yards, 13.4 avg., 2 TDs). Center Casey Wiegmann is also returning to Kansas City for the first time as a Bronco.

***

The Kansas City Chiefs are at home, winless and just chomping at the bit to knock-off the number one Denver Broncos. The immediate thing for fans to keep in mind is that this is an important game, probably the most important game the Broncos will have all week. The outcome can propel the Broncos forward to 4-0 in a weakened AFC. Two of the tougher games that Denver had on the 2008 schedule are done. Both games ended up circling the rim, but ultimately dropping into the win column. Pulling a game at Kansas City in September and not November is also a blessing for Denver.

The Chiefs have yielded 79 points in three games, the Broncos scored 79 points in the first two-games this season. The Chiefs have started three different quarterbacks in three different games, though the early Tuesday word from Herm Edwards was that veteran Damon Huard would start against Denver. The main concern for Denver going in to this game, has to be the recent reemergence of Kansas City running back Larry Johnson.

Opportunity is knocking for Denver, for the first time in three weeks, Denver pulls an offense that is not ranked in the NFL’s top five (offenses). Seizing the opportunity, may have been why Denver waited until this week to unload safety Hamza Abdullah– I recall one fan saying that Denver has been afforded another preseason game… I absolutely do not agree, however, he did have a valid point. Personnel will be out of position this week, fans will see the Broncos running a legitimate 3-4 (5-2) for a few series on defense, it will be exciting if fans are able to hold on to the rope.

The Broncos are going to be able to game plan against an offense that frankly isn’t very good, though they’ve got two of the best players in the AFC: Tony Gonzales, is amongst the top three tight ends, perennially, in the NFL. Larry Johnson, despite last year, is still amongst the best running backs in the league, until someone proves him wrong. They’ve also got a guy named Dewayne Bowe, he’s not good, but great, despite being on a team that can’t get him the ball. Had the Chiefs been able to get Brady Quinn from the Cleveland Browns some how, we’d have trouble (as would the rest of the NFL), but they weren’t, so…

I’m skipping keys this week and simply taking a crack at what will happen: young Bowe will beat Champ Bailey at least twice, whether or not Bowe is thrown a ball that is catch-able is up to Huard. Larry Johnson will rush for 100 yards, but it is up to Denver to cap him there. The final telling is Tony Gonzales, he’ll be open, a hell of a lot, and it’s up to Bob Slowik to figure out how to stop one of the top three tight ends in the league. Of course Slowik will, but there’s really nothing to brag about, next year around this time, the Chiefs will figure out their quarterback situation and they’ll be a problem.

In the mean time, Denver will set another record; beating the Chiefs in Kansas City for the second-year in a row.

  • Aerobroncos

    Yeah its so easy for everyone to just be like oh this is a gimmy for the broncos but for some reason its still a game to worry about(just not to much). Denver for whatever reason usually has a hard time in KC. Although i do think we get the win we did see what happened to the Pats Vs. Miami. “Any givin Sunday” GO BRONCOS!

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    Aerobroncos- Exactly… If you’ve been a fan long enough, you know it’s never easy in KC.

  • LorDog

    Anytime you walk into a place with an attitude of “this should be easy” you’re in trouble. Shanny has indicated that his “team will be ready” and that they are not falling into that trap. I hope so. With a change of quarterback, even if it is Huard, often times it provides a much needed spark to a losing team. We can certainly pound the Chiefs but we can’t go in thinking it’s over before we even start.
    Go Broncos!

  • flbronc

    my brother and i were talking the same thing… this is a big time trap game for us. on paper we should utterly demolish them on an oakland raiders sized scale. i’m afraid this one is going to be closer than anyone wants it to be.

    we’ve got the tools to beat them pretty good, but after two weeks of barely hanging on for the ‘w’, do our guys come out and execute to their potential and keep it going for 60 minutes?

  • Triston27

    I agree that we often struggle in KC. But last year we put it to them pretty good, and the only thing that has changed since then is that our offense is even better. Plus, I’ll be at this game, so we’ve got that going for us. Which is nice.

  • bill temple

    I agree, this is likely the most important game for the Broncos all week. If we could just stop them from playing all those other games we’d be in great shape.

  • kerry

    not to nitpick or anything, but there is a line in the second paragraph of this article: “Probably the most important game the Broncos will have all week” um am i missing something? do the Broncos have another game this week that isnt as important. lol

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    Kerry-

    Sorry if that isn’t obvious, but I was stating the obvious- kind of tongue and cheek.

    – Ian

  • merc22

    this game will be fun to watch, but a close one it will be
    And our D is good, they just were tried in the 2nd half of games and they cant do that

  • kerry

    Ian:

    i know man. i was just messing around. lol.

  • OC Bronco

    This game is an absolute lay-up with Tyler Thigpen at QB but not Damon Huard. Since Trent Green, Huard has been their only solid QB and I believe might even have a winning record with KC.
    Obviously this is a game we should win but I am definitely disappointed to see Huard is back in action.

  • Quicksilver

    Not me, i want the Broncos to get the best of the Chiefs out there (no matter how bad that may be) i don’t want to hear any excuses about the Chiefs losing this game, i am even happy LJ is doing good, all the more reason for the D to take this game seriously. If this bronco team is going to make it deep into the playoffs, or into the playoffs at all then they need to be tested every week and on every level. it will only do them good to face teams at their best.

  • Richard

    I don’t see any signs of overconfidence, just the opposite. In Cutler’s post game interview last Sunday he was rather upset with himself about a number of wild throws. He promised to concentrate and be better this week at KC. Shanny won’t let them take it easy, and I’m sure he has already given the team his “we don’t win at Arrowhead speech”. There is no talking going on, quite the contrary, things are very quiet.

    With that said, we will take it to them like last year. The timing and rhythm of the O is much better than last year, and the revolving door of QBs has got to hurt the timing of the Chefs O. There are major problems for the Missouri boys all over the D especially at DB. Look how well that went for the Saints. They will not be able to play from behind, and they should be behind early in the first quarter.

    Hopefully, we will get the opportunity to unleash the running game, and get the RBs involved in the short passing game. Showing our future opponents a few new plays will give the D coordinators more nightmares than just Brandon Marshall. I would also hope to see some improvement on our Defense. The Chefs don’t have a top 5 offense. With luck, we put the game away in the middle of the third quarter, and give the younger guys some live reps in garbage time. That could be very helpful for us down the road.

  • DDDepressionnn

    There has come winter :(
    It became cold and cloudy!
    Mood very bad :(
    Depression Begins

  • DDDDepressionnnn

    Depression Depression Depression aaaaaaaa
    HEEEEELP :( :( :(
    I hate winter! I want summer!