The Denver Broncos are the defending Super Bowl champions, but you might not know it from watching their recent performances. They’re on the outside of the playoff picture after losing three of their last four games, and badly need a win against the Kansas City Chiefs to keep their wild card hopes alive.
Broncos vs. Chiefs live stream: How to watch ‘Sunday Night Football’ online
The defending champions are suddenly in real danger of missing the playoffs this year.
This game is NBC’s special Christmas Day edition of Sunday Night Football, with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in the booth and Michele Tafoya on the sidelines. Viewers can stream it online at NBC Sports’ website.
The Broncos dropped to 8-6 after yet another flat offensive performance, falling to the New England Patriots, 16-3. They’re officially out of the AFC West title race and entered Week 16 behind the Miami Dolphins (9-5) for the No. 6 seed. Denver’s only hope to return to the playoffs is winning a wild card spot, but the team no longer controls its own destiny. That’s a big letdown after lifting the Lombardi Trophy last season.
One of the Broncos’ biggest problems is establishing a run game. Devontae Booker failed to fill in for an injured C.J. Anderson, rushing for just 3.4 yards per attempt and never finding the end zone. Denver signed journeyman Justin Forsett to pick up the slack, but he has only 54 rushing yards in his first two games with the Broncos. Combine that with a bad offensive line failing to protect Trevor Siemian, and you have a recipe for a broken offense. Denver would be officially eliminated from playoff contention with a loss this week and a Dolphins win.
It doesn’t help that the Broncos’ Week 16 opponent seems to already have their number. These teams last met in Week 12 and the Chiefs made a spirited comeback, erasing a 24-16 lead late in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Kansas City eventually escaped with the 30-27 win thanks to a last-minute field goal by Cairo Santos.
Although the Chiefs are almost certain to make the playoffs at 10-4, they messed up their position in the AFC West last week. Kansas City had a 17-16 lead over the Tennessee Titans and just needed to run out the clock, but the offense had a quick three-and-out, giving the Titans one last chance to win. They took advantage with Ryan Succop (ironically a former Chief) nailing a 53-yard field goal, giving Tennessee the win and stunning the home crowd Arrowhead Stadium.
Now the Chiefs are 10-4 and let the Oakland Raiders (11-3) slip back into first place in the division. It’s a deflating loss, to be sure — going from the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye to No. 5 and a playoff road game in just one week significantly changes the Chiefs’ postseason outlook. They really need to close the deal against this flawed Broncos team before squaring off with the San Diego Chargers in the regular season finale.
Andy Reid has done a lot of good things in Kansas City, but a serious playoff run is still out of his grasp. Gary Kubiak won the Super Bowl less than a year ago, but his team is in real danger of watching the postseason from home. Both teams are desperate, and that should make this division-rival clash particularly fascinating to watch.
How to watch
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Place: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
TV: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
Online: NBC Sports Live
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