It appears Chiefs Kingdom is having an absolute blast this week, trolling their once AFC West rival Denver Broncos. It’s been so long since the Broncos last defeated Kansas City we need to go back to September 17, 2015, a time when Barack Obama was shooting baskets at the White House, “Uptown Funk” was getting everyone moving, and oh yeah, the Denver Broncos not the Kansas City Chiefs were set to become the reigning Super Bowl champs! A lot has changed since then, hasn’t it? Let’s just say, Chiefs fans have had quite a few reasons to be celebrating while Broncos fans have been left with wondering when will the Broncos beat Kansas City again?

Beating the Chiefs has become almost a comedy of errors, which Broncos Country has, for decades, never thought could be possible. Prior to the arrival of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, the Chiefs, Broncos’ rivals, stood at 56-55 in favor of the Chiefs. This combined with the complete dysfunction of the Broncos over the last seven years has left Denver and in a place of not only wanting to break the streak against the Chiefs but also having become a must-do if they want to save their season, sitting at 1-4. In addition, an impatient fan base has been calling for a complete rebuild. Over the next three weeks, the Broncos will face Kansas City twice, which, win or lose, will have a monumental impact on the team’s past, present, and future.

Stopping the streak

The Denver Broncos find themselves at a critical juncture in their return to being relevant. Frustratingly to Broncos fans, Denver has endured a lengthy fifteen-game losing streak against the Chiefs a statistic to fans that demands immediate attention. In order to become competitive AFC West, the Broncos must break free from this continuous cycle of defeat at the hands of Mahomes and Reid and find a way to make the series a rivalry once again.

Despite the challenges faced by the Broncos’ defense this season, there have been glimpses of promising performances. However, their upcoming encounter against the Kansas City Chiefs presents a test they have not been able to pass despite the Chiefs being vulnerable this season as Mohomes has struggled at times to gel with his new receivers.

Furthermore, the uncertainty surrounding the availability of Kansas City’s star tight end, Travis Kelce, due to an ankle injury adds an additional layer of intrigue to Denver’s chances. Currently, the sports lines in Vegas have the Chiefs as a 10.5 point favorite. Although heavy underdogs, the Broncos have played Kansas City tough over the last couple of seasons and must seize this opportunity against a “struggling” Mahomes on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium to finally break the curse.

While a win in Kansas City may not eradicate the disappointments and setbacks of an entire season, it would undoubtedly inject a ray of hope and alleviate some of the lingering frustration within Broncos Country. The loyal and passionate fans of the Denver Broncos are tired and frustrated and a victory against the Chiefs would signify a significant step towards reclaiming their position as contenders in the AFC West.

Back in contention

A victory on Thursday in Arrowhead would bring a breath of fresh air to what has been a dismal Broncos’ season. With this win, Denver would have an opportunity to build on their success as they return from a ten-day break to face a struggling Packers team in Denver. A couple of wins over the next two weeks sets the stage for a crucial rematch at Empower Field in Mile High in three weeks against the Chiefs, which could bring Denver within reach of a .500 record before their bye week.

A loss and the Broncos drop to 1-5, which would all but eliminate Denver from playoff competition. The streak of losing to the Chiefs would continue on to 16 games and even if the Broncos are able to beat the Packers most likely Denver would be facing an uphill battle in must win games versus the Chiefs again and on the road in Buffalo.

To tank or not to tank

In three weeks, we will know the future of the Denver Broncos. A 4-4 Broncos team with two wins over the Chiefs would be feeling pretty good about themselves. All the talk of selling off assets would disappear, and more than likely Russell Wilson will have regained of Broncos Country and be the favorite for being the solution at quarterback going into next season, assuming Denver is able to stay in playoff contention.

Wins over the Chiefs twice would confirm Sean Payton is the right coach to lead the Broncos’ revival, and the next steps for Denver would be more focused on how can they tweak the roster and add depth next year to become serious playoff contenders in the AFC over the next couple of seasons. Beat the Chiefs, and Denver turns the corner.

On the flip side, if Denver loses on Thursday and in two weeks, the team will be sitting at 2-6, and misery in the Mile High City will reach its boiling point. The team who paid Seattle and New Orleans multiple first and second rounders for their franchise-fixing coach and quarterback will be stuck with questions about the future. Wilson’s cap number will make signing free agents difficult, while Payton will be feeling pressure to be making changes to his staff, most notably Vance Joseph his defensive coordinator.

Losses over the next couple of weeks will most likely have General Manager George Paton fielding offers for players like receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cortland Sutton to offload salaries and add picks. The team could even be tempted to trade top talent like Simmons and Patrick Surtain II, as the team would be in full rebuild mode to add draft capital.

By trading away some key players, they can acquire additional draft picks, which will give them the opportunity to invest in young and promising talent. This not only helps in the short term by reducing salary cap burdens but also provides the potential for long-term growth and development.

While a full rebuild might be what’s best for Denver if they lose to the Chiefs, a full rebuild would be an absolute failure to this Coaching staff and group of players who have higher expectations.

The Broncos’ front office is tasked with making strategic decisions that can shape the franchise’s future and ensure sustained competitiveness in the highly competitive NFL landscape. It remains to be seen how Paton and the Broncos organization will navigate these potential trades if they come about, but it is clear that difficult choices lie ahead as they aim to position the team for success in the seasons to come.