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5 Chiefs the Denver Broncos need to worry about on Sunday Night

By Noah Smith

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs directs his team from the line of scrimmage against the defense of the Denver Broncos in the game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs directs his team from the line of scrimmage against the defense of the Denver Broncos in the game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce, Chiefs TE (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

3. Travis Kelce

Arguably the best tight end in football, Travis Kelce poses a huge problem to any team that faces him. The Broncos have struggled to hold Kelce in check in recent years and has had some of his best games facing the Broncos.

Kelce is on pace for his fifth consecutive season with 1,000 receiving yards. He is at his best working the middle of the field on third downs and finding soft spots in zones to give his quarterback easy completions.

Kelce is an elite athlete as well, making spectacular catches in traffic and using his athleticism to embarrass defenders in man coverage. His 6’5″ frame and quickness out of his breaks make him one of the toughest covers in the NFL, and one of the biggest mismatches for defenders to deal with.

The Broncos held Kelce in check in October’s meeting between the two teams, with three receptions for 31 yards on the day. The Chiefs’ offense was largely held in check despite the difference in score between the two teams.

If the Denver Broncos hope to repeat their efforts against the Chiefs on Sunday night, slowing down Travis Kelce is a must. Kelce is Patrick Mahomes’ go-to-guy in critical situations and often looks for him on third downs and in the red zone.

Mixing up coverages on Kelce in the underneath routes could eliminate Kelce’s impact on the game. The Broncos must be ready to double Travis Kelce on third downs, and they must make sure they have desirable matchups personnel-wise. Look for the Broncos to use a variety of defenders to slow down Kelce, including safety Justin Simmons seeing some reps.

Taking away Mahomes’ safety-blanket is one key to making him uncomfortable, and potentially making poor decisions with the football. If the Broncos can eliminate Travis Kelce’s impact, they will have a shot at hanging in with the Chiefs.

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