Chiefs vs. Broncos live stream: How to watch ‘Sunday Night Football’ online

Two AFC West rivals will take the field in a primetime showdown that will solidify one team’s playoff standing and leave the other twisting in the wind. The 7-3 Kansas City Chiefs will travel west for a pivotal matchup with the 7-3 Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.

The AFC West has staked a claim as the NFL’s toughest division this fall. Three teams — Kansas City, Denver, and Oakland — have seven wins or more in 2016. Only the NFC East has more than one team that can claim the same. While the Raiders held down the top spot after Week 11, the Chiefs and Broncos were in prime position to vie for the conference’s two wild card spots.

However, the loser of Sunday night’s game could be in trouble. At 7-4, the West’s third-place team will have to fend off a challenge from an ascendant Miami squad. The Dolphins turned a 1-4 start into a 6-4 record behind a revitalized offense led by tailback Jay Ajayi. They host a 1-9 49ers team on Sunday, and a win will give them a stake in the conference’s second wild card spot.

Kansas City will be trying to stop a one-game slide from turning into a streak after an upset loss at the hands of Tampa Bay last weekend. The Chiefs struggled to stop Jameis Winston, who threw for more than 330 yards in the win. More importantly, they had trouble finding the end zone, scoring only 17 points the week before facing one of the NFL’s scariest defenses.

While Kansas City will draw an easier assignment at quarterback, things will only get tougher for Alex Smith’s offense. Trevor Siemian has struggled in his first season as an NFL starter, completing barely 60 percent of his passes and posting one of the league’s lowest quarterback ratings. Denver ranks 27th in the league in total offense this fall, thanks, in part, to Siemian’s low-efficiency passing and a running attack that’s gained less than 100 yards per game.

Whatever the Broncos lack on offense they make up for on defense. Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner Von Miller leads an attack that’s haunted quarterbacks in 2016. Denver has held opposing QBs to a league-low 71.0 passer rating partly due to a pass rush that’s earned sacks on nearly 8 percent of dropbacks. That means passers play like Blaine Gabbert when they take the field at Mile High Stadium, and they can expect to get sacked every 12 passes.

That’s bad news for Smith, who has dealt with injuries this fall. A concussion knocked him out of a Week 8 game against the Colts and a Week 9 victory over the Jaguars. While Nick Foles is a capable backup, his struggles against Jacksonville (20-for-33, only 187 yards) don’t bode well for his chances if the Chiefs’ offensive line can’t keep Smith upright. Kansas City will need all the firepower it can get to overcome Denver’s ferocious defense.

Below is all you need to watch Sunday’s game.

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Location: Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, Denver

TV: NBC

Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya

Online: Sunday Ticket, NBC Sports