Broncos-Chiefs Gauntlet Throwdown Moved to NBC’s Sunday Night Football

Oct 27, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (25) intercepts a pass during the second half against the Washington Redskins at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Get ready for Carrie Underwood to introduce the Broncos an extra time this season.

In addition to already having three prime-time games, the Broncos had two more on the schedule with a Sunday Night Football matchup against the Patriots and a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Chargers. Now, the NFL has decided that the emergence of the Kansas City Chiefs has warranted yet another prime time matchup for the Broncos, who will now play host to the Kansas City Chiefs under the lights in Sunday Night Football action.

The Broncos and Chiefs were originally slated to meet in the late afternoon slot before the NFL made the swap.

The flex by the NFL gives the Broncos a league-high six prime-time games this season, with four being played in the Mile High City. As of right now, there are no plans for any more prime time games for the Broncos aside from this one being added, and looking at the schedule, it doesn’t appear that any others would be flexed anyway. The December 1st matchup against Kansas City will be a good game, and perhaps the NFL will flex that to the late-afternoon slot, but I don’t think NBC is going to get the Broncos three weeks in a row.

The last time the Broncos were on Sunday Night Football, they lost to the Colts on the road. Playing under the lights at home is an entirely different situation for Denver, one that they have thrived in with Peyton Manning as the quarterback.

With Kansas City taking on a breathtaking fourth backup or third string QB in the last five games, and their third straight game against a third-string QB against the Bills coming up on Sunday, there’s almost no question that KC will be 9-0 heading into their matchup with Denver on Sunday Night Football, which is coming off of a bye week.

By the time the Broncos-Chiefs game kicks off, it will have been over a month (Oct. 13th) since Kansas City has had to go against a 1st or 2nd string QB for the opposing team.