Denver Broncos Season Finale Preview - The Chiefs

by KaptainKirk on Dec 30, 2011 10:00 AM MST in 2011 Denver Broncos Game Previews

Spencer Larson of the Denver Broncos carries the ball as Tamba Hali of the Kansas City Chiefs defends during the game on November 13, 2011 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos will play host to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in a New Year's Day matchup with a chance to clinch the AFC West Division. The 8-7 Broncos, tied for 1st place with the Oakland Raiders, are in a position to claim their 11th AFC West title if they can get past the 6-9 Chiefs. Kickoff for the game at Sports Authority Filed at Mile High is set for 2:15 p.m. MST.

Weather and Conditions

The game will be broadcast on CBS with Jim Nantz (play by play) and Phil Simms (color commentary) will be calling a Bronco game for the 3rd consecutive week. Check the Broadcast Map to see which games are available in your area this week. The Officiating will be done by referee Pete Morelli and his crew.

R Pete Morelli 135
U Fowler 71
HL Baltz 26
LJ Hussey 35
FJ Lucivansky 89
SJ Carlsen 39
BJ Vernatchi 75
RA Moore
VO Alexander

The weather forecast for the game calls for favorable conditions.

Partly Sunny

Temperature: 21/43f

For the current conditions, go here.

Injuries and external factors

The Chiefs really only have one injury that will affect Sunday's game. Running Back Jackie Battle, who was the leading rusher for Kansas City in Week 10, has an ankle injury and probably won't play since he was in a walking boot and labeled "Doubtful" on Wednesday. That leaves the trio of the aging Thomas Jones, shifty Dexter McCluster and Fullback Le'Ron McClain to split carries. Jones hasn't been a feature back for a few seasons, McCluster won't be used that way because of his size. The Chiefs can put him in better matchups suitable for his size and speed. Out of the three, McClain could possibly handle 20-25 carries on Sunday (he had 902 yards in 2008) if need be.

OFFENSE

This chart represents the Rankings for the Chiefs Offense as compared to the Broncos Defense. I have also included last week's rankings for the Broncos so you can see progress or regress. The DVOA stat is taken from Football Outsiders and is explained here.

Chiefs				Broncos
Offense	Rank	Category	Rank	Defense
13.7	31st	Points For	25th	25.7
312.8	25th	Total Yds	23rd	362.9
193.7	25th	Pass Yds	20th	235.3
119.1	12th	Rush Yds	25th	127.7
33	16th	Sacks	T-7th	40
N/A	N/A	Forced Fumbles	23rd	11
18	24th	Interceptions	T-27th	9
36.20%	17th	3rd Downs	5th	33.50%
-14.60%	30th	Overall DVOA	18th	6.30%
-3	20th	Turnover Margin	27th	-11
72	17th	QB Hits Allowed	N/A	N/A

Matt Cassell is out for the season, leaving Kyle Orton in charge. He is 44/68 for 599 yds, a 64.7% Completion rate, 1 TD, 2 INT's and a 85.4 QB Rating since becoming the Chiefs starter two games ago. The Running Backs are Jackie Battle (149 carries, 597 yds, a 4.0 avg and 2 TD), Thomas Jones (138, 436 yds, 3.2 ypc), Dexter McCluster (102, 455 yds, 4.5 ypc and 43 Catches for 303 yds and 1 TD), and Fullback Le'Ron McClain (13, 47 yds, 1 TD and 14-82 yds and 1 TD Receiving).

The Wide Receivers are Dwayne Bowe (75 Rec, 1066 yds, 5 TD's), Steve Breaston (60-766 yds, 2 TD's), Keary Colbert (9-89 yds), Jonathan Baldwin (18-227, 1 TD),Terrance Copper (7-100 yds) and Jerheme Urban (4-35 yds). The Tight Ends are Leonard Pope (23-235 yds, 1 TD) and Jake O'Connell (7-52 yds).

The starters on the Kansas City Offensive Line are LT Branden Albert (6 False Start, 3 Hold, 5 Sacks Allowed), LG Ryan Lilja (1 Hold, 2 Sacks Allowed), C Casey Wiegmann (1 FSt, 1 Hold, 1.5 SA), RG Jon Asamoah (3 FS, 1 Hold, 3 SA) and RT Barry Richardson (5 FS, 2 Hold, 4.5 SA).

DEFENSE

This chart represents the Rankings for the Chiefs Defense as compared to the Broncos Offense.

Chiefs				Broncos
Defense	Rank	Category	Rank	Offense
22.3	20th	Points Against	22nd	19.1
337.8	15th	Total Yds	22nd	320.5
211.4	9th	Pass Yds	31st	159.5
126.4	23rd	Rush Yds	1st	161.1
27	27th	Sacks	22nd	39
12	15th	Forced Fumbles	N/A	N/A
19	6th	Interceptions	T-12th Least	13
34.90%	9th	3rd Downs	30th	31.10%
1.90%	14th	Overall DVOA	23rd	-3.90%
104/880	12th	Penalties	T-17th	95/793
N/A	N/A	QB Hits Allowed	23rd	64

The Chiefs Defensive Line is made up of LDE Tyson Jackson (50 TKL, 1 SK, 2 PBU), NT Kelly Gregg (34 TKL, 1 PBU,1 SK) and RDE Glenn Dorsey (55 TKL). Wallace Gilberry (9 TKL, 2 PBU, 2 SK, 2 FF) is also in the rotation.

The Linebacking corp has LOLB Justin Houston (49 TKL, 4 SK, 4 PBU, 1 FF) with Andy Studebaker (16 TKL, 1 FF) backing him up. The LILB is Jovan Belcher (82 TKL, 1 PBU) and Demorrio Williams (17 TKL) is in the #2 spot. At RILB, leading tackler Derrick Johnson (126 TKL, 2 SK, 9 PBU's, 2 INT, 1 FF) cleans things up and ROLB Tamba Hali (62 TKL, 12 SK, 4 FF) is the Chiefs pass rushing threat.

In the Defensive backfield LCB Brandon Flowers (56 TKL, 19 PBU's, 4 INT, 1 TD) and RCB Brandon Carr (43 TKL, 13 PBU's, 3 INT's) man the corners. Javier Arenas (29 TKL, 1 SK, 5 PBUs, 2 INT) and Travis Daniels (13 TKL, 3 PBU, 2 INT) is a seasoned backup.

Reshard Langford (10 TKL) has started the last 2 games at Strong Safety and Donald Washington (25 TKL, 1 PBU,1 FF) is the backup. The Free Safeties are Kendrick Lewis (57 TKL, 10 PBU's, 3 INT's, 1 TD) and Sabby Piscitelli (30 TKL, 1 PD, 1 FF).

SPECIAL TEAMS

This chart represents the Rankings for both teams Special Teams Units.

Chiefs	Rank	Special Teams	Rank	Broncos
45.8	13th	Punt-Avg(Gross)	5th	47.6
40	8th	Punt-Avg (Net)	6th	40.4
12.1	6th	Punt Ret-Avg	4th	12.7
11.4	13th	PR-Avg Allowed	12th	11.6
21.3	30th	Kick Ret-Avg	10th	24.5
24.2	T-16th	KR-Avg Allowed	21st	24.6
24/29	18th	FG Made/Att	29th	18/24
-0.20%	20th	Overall DVOA	16th	0.50%

Kansas City Kicker Ryan Succop is 24/29 (82.8%) on his Field Goals this year. His longest this year was 54 yards. Ryan is 19/19 on Extra Points. He has Kicked off 57 times this season with 30 touchbacks. Opponents have ran back 23 kickoffs for a 24.5 yard average.

Dustin Colquitt has made 81 punts for a 45.8 average, a 40.0 Net and a long of 68 yards. He has placed 23 punts Inside the 20 yard line. 23 have been Fair Caught and the coverage unit has downed 16 of his punts. 34 have been returned for an average of 11.4 yards and 1 Touchdown.

Thomas Gafford has been the Chiefs Long snapper for the last 2 1/2 seasons. He has appeared in 56 career games and has 12 Tackles and a Fumble Recovery on Special Teams.

Javier Arenas and Dexter McCluster have both been used as return men for the Chiefs. Arenas has 29 punt returns with a 13.4 yard average, while McCluster has returned 5 punts for a 9.4 average. On Kick returns, Dexter has 25 run backs for a 22.3 average and Javier has returned 17 Kickoffs an average of 21.3 yards.

SERIES HISTORY

The Chiefs lead this series 47-55-0 in the regular season. The last time these teams met was during Week 10 in Kansas City. The Broncos won that game 17-10 on the strength of a 56-yard touchdown pass from Tim Tebow to Eric Decker. They have split the series in each of the last 3 seasons since Denver swept in 2007. The Broncos won last years meeting in Denver on November 14, 2010 by the score of 49-29.

The line in Vegas has the Broncos favored by 3 points

THE BOTTOM LINE

This is a must win for Denver if they want to participate in the postseason tournament and start the year off in a high note.

Go Broncos!

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Comments

Phil Simms

I don’t know why but Phil Simms is annoying for me to listen to.

by Baghdad on Dec 30, 2011 10:09 AM MST reply actions

Broncos

haven’t won a home AFC West game yet this year. I think they’re due!

Release the Tebow!

by NewEraNugg on Dec 30, 2011 10:25 AM MST reply actions

Shouldn't that be Denver Broncos Regular Season Finale? ;)

We’ve got another four games left in us after this one!

None of us go out and play for stats. You just do whatever you can to help the team out. -- Eddie Royal

Follow @BroncosFan1984

by Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan on Dec 30, 2011 10:30 AM MST reply actions 1 recs

Yeah, plain "season finale" sounds defeatist

by si_ice on Dec 30, 2011 12:17 PM MST up reply actions

Well probably

I didn’t want to turn the title into a paragraph though.

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
My ship finally came in, but it was the Kobayashi Maru.
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by KaptainKirk on Dec 30, 2011 1:51 PM MST up reply actions

Lol understood

I was just kidding around :).

None of us go out and play for stats. You just do whatever you can to help the team out. -- Eddie Royal

Follow @BroncosFan1984

by Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan on Dec 30, 2011 3:24 PM MST up reply actions

No worries

It is a fair point.

by KaptainKirk on Dec 30, 2011 5:00 PM MST up reply actions

Orton leaving the team mid-season

and coming back to play against us with the Chiefs. Anybody remember the Eddie Kennison debacle? I hope we’re ready.

by HawaiiBroncoFan on Dec 30, 2011 11:18 AM MST reply actions

I remember it being the first of many Mike Shanahan debacle's.

Bronco Champions are being forged as we speak.

by BroncoRick69 on Dec 30, 2011 11:38 AM MST up reply actions

if you really think about it

Shanahan probably did more bad than good but the Lombardis cover a multitude of sins!

Brad James

Follow me on Twitter

With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!

by the new Bradfather on Dec 30, 2011 12:03 PM MST up reply actions

We must win the hidden-yardage battle

if so, I think we can win this one, going away. Regardless of how we have sucked the past five years, Kansas City is a team we have done well against so let’s do it again. GO BRONCOS, the playoffs are in sight!

Brad James

Follow me on Twitter

by the new Bradfather on Dec 30, 2011 11:18 AM MST reply actions

Thanks Kaptain for holding the fort the last two weeks.

The stat that jumps out to me is third down. We must stop them on third down and we must convert.

It all starts in the trenches - HT 11/11/08
Leave the hateful vitriol to the uninformed - HT 3/16/09

by firstfan on Dec 30, 2011 11:51 AM MST reply actions

Wheres Tamba Hali on the defense?

The dudes been a beast. Maybe i over looked him on the cheifs defense.

by broncs27 on Dec 30, 2011 11:56 AM MST via mobile reply actions

Yea i over looked him.

His name wasnt in bold letters like nost of the other defensive starters. Sorry Kptn.

by broncs27 on Dec 30, 2011 11:58 AM MST via mobile up reply actions

I will fix that

Apparently the editor didn’t pick him up. I expected him to have his own link on SBNation, especially since he is one of their best players.

by KaptainKirk on Dec 30, 2011 1:54 PM MST up reply actions

if we don't know

we’re in trouble, stonewall him!

Brad James

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by the new Bradfather on Dec 30, 2011 12:04 PM MST up reply actions

Stonewall Hali?

More like redirect the juggernaut…I’m pretty sure Hali is actualy a minotaur with a lot of pre-game makeup by professionals to disguise him as a mere man.

Quotes from my wife (2nd yr football fan) while watching the Broncos with me:
"Honey I know we are losing and you are upset but remember things could be worse. You could be cheering for the Raiders."
"THAT hit [Rahim on Jones] got a flag? What?!?! AND a FINE?!?! Why not just strap pillows to their heads and have a tea party on the 50 yard line since that's as much contact as the NFL will allow."

by DominantDenverDefense on Dec 30, 2011 9:29 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks KK...alwasy like these articles!

Foxy...you WERE on the hot seat, but you fooled me you rascally old deveil...keep building that team mate!

"Tebow is a special player. I have never seen a player quite like him in my whole career! I’m gonna play all out for the guy! I know he will be out there giving 110% every play every week, so I’m gonna give 120%!:

Champ Bailey.

by boydy2669 on Dec 30, 2011 7:41 PM MST reply actions