Denver Broncos: 3 Keys to a Win vs the Kansas City Chiefs

The Denver Broncos travel to Kansas City on Sunday for a game that has multiple aspects working against the possibility of them securing a victory.

Denver is coming off of a feel-good, 45-10 demolishing of the hapless Arizona Cardinals.  It halted the Broncos four-game fall and pulled them within one game of .500 at 3-4.

Can you believe it’s the middle of the season already?

Kansas City, not to be outdone, dropped a Kareem Hunt and Patrick Mahomes highlight reel on the Cincinnati Bengals en route to their own 45-10 victory.

There are so many factors to consider with the Chiefs-Broncos not the least of which is the rivalry itself.  This is one of those matchups that has little to do with the quality of either team and a lot to do with who can control and capitalize on the emotion created by a rivalry game.  A look at the history of the AFC West rivals shows that emotions have always played a huge part in the game.

November 16, 1998, the 9-0 Broncos rolled into Arrowhead to take on the 4-5 Chiefs.  Denver controlled the game and had the ball, leading 23-7 in the second half.  Any Chiefs hope of a comeback had to start with them getting the ball.  The Chiefs defense responded with an astounding five personal foul/unsportsmanlike penalties (three from Hall-of-Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas), accounting for 75 yards on Denver’s game-sealing drive.

November 14, 2010, the Broncos rout the Chiefs 49-29 at Mile High and Chiefs coach Todd Haley refuses to shake the Broncos’ Josh McDaniels’ hand.

It seems that when the rivals meet, the team that’s best able to control their emotional output has the inside-track to victory.  It’s harder to do than it looks, particularly with two very talented and explosive teams.

So, with intangibles playing such a large part of Broncos-Chiefs games, what are some things the Broncos can do to maximize what the can control?