PLAYER NOTES
–C Mitch Morse (concussion) did not practice Wednesday and remains in the league’s concussion protocol. If Morse can’t play Sunday against the Broncos, options include backup Austin Reiter, rookie Jimmy Murray, recently signed veteran free agent Jeff Allen or possible moving Cam Erving from left guard to center.
–LB Justin Houston (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday and appears likely to miss his third-straight game. The Chiefs expected Houston to miss several weeks based on the severity of the injury.
–S Eric Berry (heel) did not practice Wednesday and seems unlikely to return to the lineup this week.
–S Daniel Sorensen returned to practice for the first time since surgery on Aug. 8 for a tibial plateau fracture in this left leg. The team has a maximum of three weeks to decide whether to add Sorensen to the active roster, and they plan to bring him along slowly this week and reevaluate his status in Week 9.
–S Eric Murray (ankle) practiced in full on Wednesday after playing mostly in substitution packages and a mop-up role in Week 7 against Cincinnati. Murray is in a battle with S Jordan Lucas for playing time alongside Ron Parker in the back of the Chiefs secondary until Eric Berry can return to the field.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Spencer Ware. Ware suffered a devastating knee injuring during the 2017 preseason, but his long road to recovery took a big step last Sunday with 89 yards from scrimmages in the team’s 45-10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ware’s return provides the Chiefs with an experienced backup behind starter Kareem Hunt, allowing the team to provide more rest for their lead back. Ware also remains a reliable blocker and threat in the passing game, evidenced by his three catches for 30 yards against the Bengals.
GAME PLAN: The Chiefs have one speed on offense, and that’s start fast and never let up. The Chiefs love to start the game on defense and get a stop, allowing them a shorter field on offense and jumping out front quickly, then it’s off to the races for a team averaging more than 37 points per game. The Chiefs have punted once in their last two games, so the key to slowing the Chiefs is simply getting a stop, any stop, any way.
Defensively the Chiefs turned in their best performance of the season in Week 7 against Cincinnati, and they hope to continue their progress by clamping down on the Denver run game and forcing the Broncos to beat them through the air. Kansas City believes they can generate a pass rush on Case Keenum and pick up sacks and turnovers if they can force Denver into passing situations.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Broncos LB Von Miller vs. Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz. This remains a classic battle. Schwartz has one of the best records against Miller, and the two veterans also put on a show lined up across from each other. The Broncos want to try and contain Mahomes in the pocket, so Miller setting the edge against both Schwartz and LT Eric Fisher when flipping sides stands essential toward that goal.
–Chiefs run defense vs. Broncos RBs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman. The Broncos’ running backs combined for 136 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in their first meeting, most of that damage coming in the first half. The rushing duo ran through the Chiefs’ Swiss cheese run defense, and a commitment to the run game is essential for the Broncos to control the ball and keep QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense off the field and out of rhythm. Freeman is battling an ankle injury, and if he can’t go it delivers a big blow to the Denver offense.
