In 2023, Patrick Mahomes tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kadarius Toney in the Chiefs’ home victory over the Denver Broncos.
Last season, the Chiefs’ quarterback hit tight end Travis Kelce on a crossing route from 2 yards out on fourth down for a touchdown, also at home. That game is remembered mostly for linebacker Leo Chenal’s blocked field goal on the final play to save KC’s victory.
Those two receptions represent the total number of TDs the Chiefs have scored against the Broncos in the past two years.
That’s correct: Four games, two victories, 34 possessions ... and two touchdowns.
In two losses at Denver since 2023, the Chiefs didn’t reach the end zone. The Chiefs’ last touchdown there came in 2022, on a third-quarter reception by JuJu Smith-Schuster. (He signed with the New England Patriots after that season but has since returned to Kansas City.)
Chiefs fans may remember that game as the one that produced the crazy Mahomes flip-pass to running back Jerick McKinnon for a 56-yard touchdown. Broncos fans might remember it as the last time the Chiefs won in Denver.
There’s a qualifier for these offensive woes: In the teams’ most recent meeting, in Week 18 last season, the Chiefs sat their starters — they had already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. But KC had been in similar situations in previous years and didn’t get beaten as badly as that 38-0 stomping.
The easy answer is Denver has improved greatly under head coach Sean Payton, who took over in 2023 and reached the playoffs in his second year there. Measures of growth under the former longtime Saints coach include standing up to the Chiefs and keeping them out of end zone at Empower Field at Mile High, site of Sunday’s game, since 2022.
The Broncos’ upward defensive trends have continued this season. Denver ranks third in the NFL in fewest points and yards allowed in building an 8-2 record that leads the AFC West.
“It’s a really good football team, there’s no way around it,” Mahomes said.
Here’s what else to watch in Sunday’s Chiefs-Broncos game. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. Central Time.
Chiefs player to watch: right tackle Jawaan Taylor
The Chiefs’ offensive line will be under constant pressure against a Broncos team that has recorded an NFL-best 46 sacks, 14 more than the teams tied for second — the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.
Last week, Denver dropped Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith six times. The Broncos are on pace for 78 sacks for the season, which would be a league record.
The Chiefs have been solid in protecting Mahomes, who has been sacked 1.89 times per game. But that protection has also shown some leaks: He’s been sacked three times in each of the past two games.
How will left tackle Josh Simmons figure into this equation? The rookie who has missed the past four games while dealing with an undisclosed personal issue returned to practice this week. But KC head coach Andy Reid hasn’t revealed whether Simmons will start — or even play — on Sunday.
Broncos player to watch: running back RJ Harvey
A foot injury suffered against the Raiders could sideline starter JK Dobbins. Harvey, a rookie from Central Florida, is the next man up.
Harvey has 50 carries for 214 yards this season and will be going up against a Chiefs defense that should be motivated after allowing its first 100-yard rushing game by a running back — Buffalo’s James Cook went for 114 in Week 9 — since 2023.
Look for quarterback Bo Nix to be a bigger part of the Broncos’ running plans against Kansas City.
Special teams player to watch: Broncos’ Marvin Mims Jr.
It’s also possible for the Broncos to use the speedy Mims out of the backfield.
He’s missed the previous two games with a concussion, but the Chiefs are expecting to see one of the NFL’s top return specialists on Sunday.
“He’s dangerous, tough to handle,” Chiefs assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub said. “We have to be on our game.”