Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

Injuries noted

Kansas City Chiefs: Omarr Norman-Lott (Out) — Official report, Wk 8: knee; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Limited · Thu, Oct 29 Limited · Sat, Oct 31 Limited. The Chiefs designated Norman-Lott (knee) to return from injured reserve Wednesday.; Ethan Downs (IR) — The Chiefs placed (Downs) knee on injured reserve Tuesday.; John Michael Gyllenborg (IR); Jeff Caldwell (IR) — Caldwell (knee) reverted to the Chiefs' injured reserve list Tuesday.; Jimmy Holiday (IR) — Holiday (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve by the Chiefs on Sunday.; Josh Simmons (IR) — The Chiefs placed Simmons (lower back) on injured reserve Thursday.; Matt Waletzko (IR) — Waletzko (undisclosed) reverted from waivers to Kansas City's injured reserve list Friday.; Tyquan Thornton (IR) — The Chiefs placed Thornton (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday.; Brashard Smith (IR) — The Chiefs placed Smith (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday.; L'Jarius Sneed (Questionable) — Official report, Wk 8: knee; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 DNP · Thu, Oct 29 Limited · Sat, Oct 31 Limited. The Chiefs placed Sneed (knee) on injured reserve Saturday.; Mansoor Delane (Questionable) — Official report, Wk 8: shoulder; practice by report day: Thu, Oct 29 DNP · Sat, Oct 31 DNP. Delane (shoulder) has been downgraded from questionable to out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.; Travis Kelce (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: ankle; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Limited · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Patrick Mahomes (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: knee; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Drue Tranquill (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: elbow; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Jaylon Moore (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: concussion; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Nick Bolton (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: neck; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Creed Humphrey (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: toe; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Rashee Rice (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: hamstring, knee; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Limited · Thu, Oct 29 Limited · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Kahlil Benson (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: ankle; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.

Denver Broncos: Caleb Lohner (IR-R) — Lohner (lower body) was placed on injured reserve by the Broncos on Sunday with a designation to return.; Nick Gargiulo (PUP-R) — Gargiulo (knee) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Broncos on Sunday.; Michael Deiter (IR) — ir; Matt Henningsen (IR) — ir; Levelle Bailey (IR) — Bailey (leg) reverted to the Broncos' injured-reserve list Friday.; Frank Crum (IR-R) — Crum (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return by the Broncos on Sunday.; Pat Bryant (IR) — Bryant (ankle) was placed on the Broncos' injured reserve Friday.; Talanoa Hufanga (Out) — Official report, Wk 8: ankle; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 DNP · Thu, Oct 29 DNP · Sat, Oct 31 DNP. Hufanga (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against Kansas City.; Tyler Badie (IR) — The Broncos placed Badie (thumb) on injured reserve Saturday.; Jonah Elliss (IR) — The Broncos placed Elliss (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday.; Jaylen Waddle (Questionable) — Official report, Wk 8: chest; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 DNP · Thu, Oct 29 Limited · Sat, Oct 31 Limited. Waddle (chest) is trending in a positive direction for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.; Zach Allen (Questionable) — Official report, Wk 8: hamstring; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 DNP · Thu, Oct 29 Limited · Sat, Oct 31 Limited. Allen (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.; Garett Bolles (Questionable) — Official report, Wk 8: hip; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Limited · Thu, Oct 29 Limited · Sat, Oct 31 Limited.; RJ Harvey (Out) — Official report, Wk 8: knee; practice by report day: Thu, Oct 29 Limited · Sat, Oct 31 DNP. The Broncos placed Harvey (knee) on injured reserve Saturday.; Brandon Jones (Questionable) — Official report, Wk 8: hamstring; practice by report day: Thu, Oct 29 Limited · Sat, Oct 31 Limited. Jones (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.; Malcolm Roach (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: neck; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Pat Surtain II (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: ankle; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Marvin Mims Jr. (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: ankle; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Limited · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.; Karene Reid (No game designation) — Official report, Wk 8: elbow; practice by report day: Wed, Oct 28 Full · Thu, Oct 29 Full · Sat, Oct 31 Full.

QUARTERBACK

• Bo Nix is the projected starting quarterback for DEN

  5.83 Y/A

  Through 7 games in 2026, Bo Nix threw for 1271 passing yards, completed 59.2% of his passes and averaged 5.83 yards per attempt. Last season over 17 games he threw for 3931 yards, completed 63.4% and averaged 6.42 yards per attempt, 25-11 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 7-3 touchdown-to-interception line is 7 games in.

• Patrick Mahomes is the projected starting quarterback for KC

  7.72 Y/A

  Through 6 games in 2026, Patrick Mahomes threw for 1474 passing yards, completed 64.9% of his passes and averaged 7.72 yards per attempt. Last season over 14 games he threw for 3587 yards, completed 62.7% and averaged 7.14 yards per attempt, 22-11 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 9-4 touchdown-to-interception line is 6 games in.

TRENCHES

• KC: 99.5 rushing yards allowed per game to DEN's 133.3

  33.8 YPG

  Kansas City holds opponents to 99.5 rushing yards a game over six games, while Denver allows 133.3 over seven. Six games is enough to say the Chiefs' run defense is the sturdier one. In Denver, that points to the Broncos having a harder time leaning on the ground game than Kansas City will.

PASS RUSH

• DEN: 3 sacks recorded per game to KC's 1.33

  1.67 SACKS

  Denver averages 3 sacks a game over 7 games, a strong pass rush, while Kansas City's defense gets 1.33 over 6. Sack totals depend partly on how often opponents drop back and how quickly they throw, and the sheet doesn't show who either faced. At home, Denver's rush is the main reason to expect Kansas City to face long down-and-distance spots more often than the Broncos do.

PACE & SCRIPT

• KC @ DEN carries a 40.5 market total

  40.5

  This total sits 5 points under the 45.5 slate median, which means the market sees Denver as a place where drives stall and field goals replace touchdowns. The fact sheet gives no player or unit detail, so the number carries the argument by itself. It cracks if either offense starts converting in the red zone instead of settling for kicks.

• KC: 23.8 points per game to DEN's 20.6

  3.3 PPG

  KC is at 23.8 points per game over 6 games; DEN is at 20.6 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 31. Last season KC was at 21.3 over 17 games and DEN at 23.6 over 17 games.

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS

• KC: 6.33 yards per play to DEN's 4.67

  1.66 Y/P

  Kansas City is gaining 6.33 yards a play to Denver's 4.67, a reversal from last season when DEN sat at 5.32 and KC at 5.05. Big KC jumps in six games deserve some caution, and KC had no play of 20-plus yards in its last game. Denver's offense looked different in its last outing, with five plays of 20-plus yards including a 62-yard Bo Nix touchdown run and a 52-yard score to RJ Harvey. The season gap favors KC, but DEN's recent explosiveness makes this a closer read than the averages suggest.

RED ZONE

• KC: 26.7% red-zone scoring allowed to DEN's 45.5%

  18.8 PP

  Teams score touchdowns on just 26.7% of red-zone trips against Kansas City over six games, compared with 45.5% against Denver over seven. A rate that low is hard to sustain, so expect the Chiefs' number to climb toward normal. Both defenses are stingy close in, which keeps field goals live in any total for this one.

MISMATCH

• KC: 6.33 yards a snap to DEN's 4.67

  6.33 VS 4.67

  Kansas City gains 6.33 yards every snap over six games, Denver 4.67 over seven, so the Chiefs move the ball in much bigger chunks. Both have flipped from last season, when Kansas City was at 5.05 and Denver at 5.32, so the Chiefs' jump is the bigger change and the one more likely to cool. Denver needs long, patient drives at home to keep the game short, and it can't afford to trade quick possessions.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• DEN lead the series with KC since 2025

  2-1 SERIES

  Denver won both meetings last season by a field goal or a touchdown, 22-19 at home and 20-13 in Kansas City on Christmas. The Chiefs flipped it hard on Sep 14, beating Denver 31-10 at Arrowhead, the only lopsided game of the three. Now it shifts to Denver, where the Broncos won the close one last November. The series lead says Denver, but the most recent result says Kansas City. Weigh both before backing either side's form.

REPLACEMENT

• RJ Harvey (RB) is on injured reserve for DEN

  IR

  Denver placed Harvey on injured reserve with a knee injury on Saturday, Oct 31, so he misses the Kansas City game and will be out for a while longer. Tyler Badie is also on injured reserve, so the Broncos are thin at running back, and whoever is left carries more of the work against the Chiefs.

• Omarr Norman-Lott (DT) is pup-r for KC

  PUP-R

  Kansas City opened Norman-Lott's window to come back from his knee injury on Wednesday, Oct 29. That starts the clock and lets him practice. It doesn't mean he plays against Denver, so his availability for this game is still open.

• Brashard Smith (RB) is on injured reserve for KC

  IR

  Kansas City put Smith on injured reserve with a hamstring injury back on Oct 24, so he is unavailable at Denver. The other Chiefs running backs split the carries he would have taken.

• Tyler Badie (RB) is on injured reserve for DEN

  IR

  Denver put Badie on injured reserve with a thumb injury on Oct 24, so he is out against Kansas City. RJ Harvey just joined him on reserve, which leaves the Broncos short at running back this week.

• L'Jarius Sneed (CB) is on injured reserve for KC

  IR

  The Chiefs placed Sneed on injured reserve with a knee injury on Saturday, Oct 31, so he misses the Denver game and more after it. Kansas City is a corner down for this road trip, and the next man up draws his coverage work.

• Josh Simmons (OT) is on injured reserve for KC

  IR

  Simmons went on injured reserve on Oct 22 with a lower back injury, so he is out for this trip to Denver and at least the next few games after it. IR means no chance of a surprise return this week. The facts here don't name who replaces him at tackle, so look at the Chiefs' depth chart before the game. Against Denver, pay attention to how the edge rushers do against whoever starts in his place.

• Jonah Elliss (LB) is on injured reserve for DEN

  IR

  The Broncos placed Elliss (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports. Reported Oct 24.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Talanoa Hufanga

  Out

  Ankle · Did not practice · Out

• R Mason Thomas

  Questionable

  Not injury related - personal matter · Did not practice · Questionable

• Brandon Jones

  Questionable

  Hamstring · Limited practice · Questionable

• Mansoor Delane

  Questionable

  Shoulder · Did not practice · Questionable

• Garett Bolles

  Questionable

  Hip · Limited practice · Questionable

• Zach Allen

  Questionable

  Hamstring · Limited practice · Questionable

• Jaylen Waddle

  Questionable

  Chest · Limited practice · Questionable

• Nick Bolton

  FP

  Full practice

• Jaylon Moore

  FP

  Full practice

• Creed Humphrey

  FP

  Full practice

• Kahlil Benson

  FP

  Full practice

• Rashee Rice

  FP

  Full practice

• Patrick Mahomes

  FP

  Full practice

• Travis Kelce

  FP

  Full practice

• Karene Reid

  FP

  Full practice

• Marvin Mims Jr.

  FP

  Full practice

• Malcolm Roach

  FP

  Full practice

• Pat Surtain II

  FP

  Full practice

• Drue Tranquill

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• KC: 239 team passing yards per game to DEN's 175.1

  63.9 YPG

  Kansas City throws for 239 a game over six games, up from 214.1 last season, while Denver has dropped to 175.1 from 223.9. That Broncos drop is big and could bounce back some, especially with Bo Nix's recent big plays. The KC side looks more stable. For this game, expect the Chiefs to lean on the pass while DEN tries to find its old level.

• KC: 7.38 yards per pass attempt to DEN's 5.4

  1.98 Y/A

  KC is at 7.38 yards per pass attempt over 6 games; DEN is at 5.4 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 31. Last season KC was at 5.65 over 17 games and DEN at 5.99 over 17 games.

• KC (5-1) at DEN (5-2), a division game

  -37 PT GAP

  Kansas City is 5-1 and +40, the stronger profile even coming off a loss. Denver is 5-2 with three straight wins and a 3-0 home mark, but only +3 on the year, so its record runs well ahead of its scoring. Close wins like that are hard to repeat week to week. The home split is real for Denver, and a bettor should weigh it against a margin that looks closer to an average team.

• KC: 2 fourth-down attempts per game to DEN's 0.57

  1.43 ATT/G

  KC is at 2 fourth-down attempts per game over 6 games; DEN is at 0.57 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 31. Last season KC was at 1.88 over 17 games and DEN at 1.18 over 17 games.

• KC: 39.4% third-down conversion rate to DEN's 31.1%

  8.3 PP

  KC is at 39.4% third-down conversion rate over 6 games; DEN is at 31.1% over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 31. Last season KC was at 37.4% over 17 games and DEN at 41.2% over 17 games.

• KC: 19.5 first downs per game to DEN's 16.6

  2.9 FD

  KC is at 19.5 first downs per game over 6 games; DEN is at 16.6 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 31. Last season KC was at 19.8 over 17 games and DEN at 19.6 over 17 games.

STREAK

• DEN has won 3 straight

  W3

  Denver has won three straight and is 5-2, so the recent form matches the full season. The sheet does not show who those wins came against, so it cannot say how hard the run was. This week brings Kansas City to Denver, a division game, and three games is a short streak that can end against any good opponent. Use the 5-2 record as the main guide and give the streak a small bump at most.

TEAM RECORD

• AFC WEST game: KC 3-0, DEN 1-1 in the division

  DIVISION

  Kansas City is 3-0 in the AFC West and Denver is 1-1. Three division wins is the strongest mark on this list, though it is still three games. Denver is 3-0 at home, so Kansas City's division run meets Denver's home run head on. Expect a close game, and be wary of paying full price for either streak.

• DEN is 3-0 at home; KC is 2-1 on the road

  3-0

  Denver is 3-0 at home and Kansas City is 2-1 on the road. Both marks are three games, so the home edge is thin as evidence. Kansas City is 3-0 in the AFC West, which balances Denver's home run. Expect the market to split the difference and look for the side the line undervalues.

AFTER GARY

• KC -1.5 → -1.5

  NOW +0.49PP

  Gary's number was -1.5; the same book now shows -1.5.