Skip to main content
Chiefs
5-1 · 23.8 pts/g
Preview · week 8
22–22
projected score · Sun 1 Nov 21:25 UK · 4:25 PM ET
Broncos
5-2 · 20.6 pts/g
Model
KC 59%
Market
KC 53%
Model pickKC 59%Low confidence
F&D score68out of 100
MarketKC 53%draftkings, margin removed
vs market+6.0points, model minus market
Total44.1KC by 0.8

This looks like a close contest, but we give a slight edge to KC. KC have been hot lately, winning 4 of their last 5. DEN have been rolling at home, winning 4 of their last 5.

Matchups to watch

How each player gets his production, set against how this opponent has defended it over their last 17 games. After the game we grade who won each one.

Travis Kelce · against DEN

A tough draw

Profile

Where his targets come from

Share of his targets. The white tick is the league average.

Short (under 10)
73%
Intermediate
16%
Deep (20+)
11%
Left side
29%
Middle
26%
Right side
44%

How DEN defend it

Ranked of 32, last 17 games. Green is a weakness to attack.

Short (under 10)
8th
Intermediate
7th
Deep (20+)
6th
Left side
8th
Middle
1st
Right side
17th
Yards after catch allowed
3rd
Sack rate forced
6th
The read
  1. Denver are top ten against short, intermediate and deep throws over their last 17 games (8th, 7th, 6th). There's no obvious soft spot for Kelce to lean on.
  2. Contested catches aren't his edge this week: he's 40th percentile for separation and 23rd for hands, and Riley Moss, Ja'Quan McMillian, Patrick Surtain II and Kris Abrams-Draine all allow fewer yards per target than the average corner (7.4).
  3. Free data doesn't show who covers whom on each snap, so this is the defence's profile, not a confirmed one-on-one.
Jaylen Waddle · against KC

The shot plays are there

Profile

Where his targets come from

Share of his targets. The white tick is the league average.

Short (under 10)
48%
Intermediate
33%
Deep (20+)
19%
Left side
44%
Middle
15%
Right side
41%

How KC defend it

Ranked of 32, last 17 games. Green is a weakness to attack.

Short (under 10)
5th
Intermediate
16th
Deep (20+)
23rd
Left side
11th
Middle
7th
Right side
13th
Yards after catch allowed
23rd
Sack rate forced
31st
The read
  1. Kansas City rank 23rd against deep balls, and 19% of Waddle's targets travel 20+ yards (the average WR is at 17%).
  2. Free data doesn't show who covers whom on each snap, so this is the defence's profile, not a confirmed one-on-one.
Patrick Mahomes · against DEN

A tough day in the air

Profile

How DEN defend it

Ranked of 32, last 17 games. Green is a weakness to attack.

Short (under 10)
8th
Intermediate
7th
Deep (20+)
6th
Left side
8th
Middle
1st
Right side
17th
Yards after catch allowed
3rd
Sack rate forced
6th
The read
  1. Denver rank 5th in EPA per dropback allowed over their last 17 games. Their weakest area is short throws (8th).
  2. Pressure: Denver are 6th at getting sacks, and Kansas City are 20th at avoiding them.

Unit by unit

Each unit ranked against all 32 teams on 2026 play-by-play through week 7. Longer bar is better; a gold rank marks the side with the edge.

When the Chiefs have the balloffence against defence, rank of 32 (1st is best)
KC offence
DEN defence
OverallEPA per play
5th
7th
PassingEPA per dropback
10th
4th
RushingEPA per carry
1st
28th
Third downconversion rate
15th
21st
Pass protectionsack rate: allowed vs forced
3rd
8th

Biggest gap: rushing, where the Chiefs offence has a 27-place edge.

When the Broncos have the balloffence against defence, rank of 32 (1st is best)
DEN offence
KC defence
OverallEPA per play
22nd
6th
PassingEPA per dropback
25th
8th
RushingEPA per carry
12th
7th
Third downconversion rate
31st
20th
Pass protectionsack rate: allowed vs forced
6th
30th

Biggest gap: pass protection, where the Broncos offence has a 24-place edge.

Form and history

Last 5 meetingsKC 2 · DEN 3
10-31DEN at KC
2026-09
20-13DEN at KC
2025-12
19-22KC at DEN
2025-11
0-38KC at DEN
2025-01
14-16DEN at KC
2024-11

Injury report

Chiefsmodel impact 0.0
Jimmy HolidayWRIR
Jeff CaldwellWR · KneeIR
Tyquan ThorntonWR · AnkleIR
Brashard SmithRB · HamstringIR
John Michael GyllenborgTE · KneeIR
Ethan DownsDE · Knee - ACLIR
Omarr Norman-LottDT · Knee - ACLPUP
Josh SimmonsOL · BackIR
Rashee RiceWR · HamstringQuestionable
Jaylon MooreOL · ConcussionQuestionable
Joe ForsonWRNA
Broncosmodel impact 0.0
Pat BryantWR · AnkleIR
Tyler BadieRB · ThumbIR
Caleb LohnerTE · Lower BodyIR
Jonah EllissDE · AnkleIR
Matt HenningsenDE · AchillesIR
Levelle BaileyLB · LegIR
Nick GargiuloOL · KneePUP
Michael DeiterOL · QuadricepsIR
Frank CrumOTIR
Jaylen WaddleWRQuestionable
Pat Surtain IICB · AnkleQuestionable
Zach AllenDE · HamstringQuestionable

Player props

Every posted line with the market's view and each player's last ten games against it.

Player props for this game haven't been posted by the books yet. They usually land Thursday to Saturday.

The betting view

Posted odds, the same odds with the bookmaker's margin removed, and where the model disagrees.

KC odds1.82
DEN odds2.02
KC fair odds1.90
DEN fair odds2.11
Model vs marketKC +6.0
Kelly stake (capped)2.6%
Bookdraftkings
Rest0d

Read this before you bet: picking winners is not beating the price. At posted odds our 2025 flat-bet ROI was −6.9%. Use the model as one view of the game, not a tip.

What the model sees

Model favors KC (59%) by 0.8 points.