Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The rivalry is alive and well. The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are longtime foes heading towards one of the most important match-ups in their storied rivalry. Sunday’s game may very well determine the AFC West Champion and the #1 seed in the conference. In anticipation of Sunday’s showdown, let’s take a look at the history of the rivalry and some of the more interesting facts:
- The Broncos and Chiefs have played each other 107 times including playoffs, with the Chiefs holding a 56-51 edge.
- During the first three years of the rivalry, the Chiefs were then known as the Dallas Texans and went 6-0 against the Broncos.
- The Chiefs were 19-1 against the Broncos during the 1960s. The Broncos lead the rivalry 50-37 since and have held the winning edge in every following decade.
- The Broncos and Chiefs have only met once in the playoffs, a divisional round game on January 4, 1998. Denver defeated top seeded Kansas City 14-10 on the way to their first Super Bowl victory.
- December road games against the Chiefs have been a nightmare for the Broncos. The Chiefs have dominated the Broncos, going 17-2 at home in December against Denver. The Broncos’ only December wins in KC came in 1994 with an 20-17 overtime victory and in 2009 with a dominating 44-13 win.
While the Broncos have gone 3-0 against the Chiefs with Peyton Manning at QB, they struggled mightily in their lone trip to Kansas City. Last November, against an undermanned 1-9 Chiefs team starting Brady Quinn at QB, the Broncos had to grind out an ugly 17-9 win in which they trailed late into the 3rd quarter.
The Broncos can take control of the division and conference this Sunday. But to do so they need to accomplish a feat as rare as a Broncos’ Super Bowl victory. They need to beat the Chiefs in their house in December.
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