Week 17 Preview: Kansas City At Denver

There’s nothing like closing out the season at home against the Chiefs. Then again, there is something like it.

Quick flashback: January 3, 2009. Jamaal Charles basically stood up on the wave and rode it all the way through last season. It was during this game that he had 25 carries for 259 yards and 2 touchdowns. He rode that performance and averaged 6.4 yards per game in 2010. The Broncos were within three at the start of the 4th quarter, but then things blew up and it was Chiefs – 44 Broncos – 24. Game, set, match. That put the cap on Josh McDaniels’ full year as head coach.

That bitter taste was partially washed away when the Broncos hosted the Chiefs at home in 2010. Better flashback: The Broncos were on a four game losing streak and captain D.J. Williams was on the sidelines to start the game because of a DUI arrest. The kickoff soared and so did the Broncos. Kyle Orton threw for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns and Tim Tebow threw his first career touchdown and ran for another. Denver’ defense stuffed the run and allowed just 51 yards on the ground. Final score? Broncos – 49 Chiefs – 29.

Over the past two seasons, we’ve ridden the highest of highs and the lowest of lows as Broncos fans. That’s just the way it goes when a team makes a significant coaching change after long tenured coach Mike Shanahan was shown the exit door.

Which Broncos team will show its face is yet to be determined, but closing out the 2011 season at home against arguably the Broncos’ biggest rival is the grand finale of this fireworks show.

The Chiefs later half of the schedule is not for the faint of heart. Their final six games has them going up against New England at Foxboro, hosting the Steelers, traveling to Chicago and New York (Jets), hosting the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, and then throwing out the welcome mat for the Raiders.

The time and the place looks right for the Broncos to get the ‘W’.

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