Playing a team twice during the regular season can be a tough task for both teams. And playing the same team twice in three weeks can certainly make things a little more interesting, especially when they’re bitter rivals.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will renew their rivalry at 3:25 p.m. Sunday in Denver — just 17 days after they met at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won the first matchup 19-8 in a defensive battle, and coach Andy Reid expects another heavyweight bout this time around.
“We know the battle we had against them,” said Reid, whose Chiefs have won 16 straight against the Broncos. “They’re a good football team. They’re coming off a big win against Green Bay where they played well.”
The Broncos (2-5) ran the ball for 145 yards against the Packers as Javonte Williams (82 yards) and Jaleel McLaughlin (45 yards) led the way. Quarterback Russell Wilson added 21 yards rushing and threw for 194 yards and a touchdown in the win.
However, in the first meeting against the Chiefs (7-1), Wilson was intercepted twice and sacked four times. But Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones says playing the same team twice in three games doesn’t exactly make it easier.
“It gets harder,” Jones said. “The team knows what you excel at, and the team knows where you had a problem at the first game. The Denver Broncos have a heck of a quarterback and an amazing coach in Sean Payton and a great supporting staff around them.
“Last year they had one of the top defenses and a lot of those guys are still there. So I think it’s a tough outing. That’s a nice group. Their record doesn’t show that, but I think they’re still a great team.”
Knowing that his team would play the Broncos again so soon, one might think Reid would’ve held something back in the playbook from the first game so he could possibly use it in the second game. Not a chance, Reid said.
“You normally don’t do that,” Reid said. “You start saving things in this business, you’ve got problems. That’s the way I’ve always looked at it. Whatever stuff you’ve got for that game you put it out there and go. And you play them again, you put your best stuff you there and go. That’s what I’ve always felt.”
In the first matchup, Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and a touchdown with one interception while his favorite target tight end Travis Kelce caught nine passes for 124 yards. The Chiefs, though, scored just one touchdown and Harrison Butker kicked four field goals.
“When you play a division opponent you know each other already,” Mahomes said. “And you prepare against that team, and they prepare against you all offseason. And then being able to play them two times in three weeks it’s a challenge because there’s so much familiarity.
“They know what we want to do, and we know what they want to do. And how can each team execute at a high level to have success? Obviously, they did a great job against us last game, and they’re going to make adjustments as well.”
After starting the season 0-3, the Broncos have gone 2-2 in their last four with the two losses coming against the Dolphins and Chiefs. Reid said Payton has the Broncos headed in the right direction, and that could certainly add some fuel to the Chiefs-Broncos rivalry again.
“He’s a veteran coach,” Reid said of Payton. “They made some adjustments on the defensive side and they’re playing good football. I don’t know what went through all of that. But the last couple games they changed up what they were doing before that, and they’ve had success with it.
“But it’s because he’s been around. He’s been a defensive coordinator and a head coach. And he’s been around so they know how to maneuver. And they’ve done a good job with that.”
