As the 5-1 Chiefs get set to hit the road to play the 2-3 Denver Broncos, one can’t help but feel the luster has left this rivalry.
In the 90’s, Denver overtook the Oakland Raiders are the Chiefs principle nemesis. Broncos quarterback John Elway delivered numerous unforgettable daggers into the hearts of Chiefs fans during the decade, while Kansas City coach Marty Schottenheimer delivered many a blow of his own.
Since the retirement of Peyton Manning following the 2015 season, the Broncos fall into irrelevance has been eye opening and conspicuous. The Chiefs have beaten Denver nine straight times, a microcosm of the shift of power that has occurred within the AFC West itself.
The last time Denver won a game in this series Justin Bieber dominated the pop charts and “Straight Outta Compton” was the #1 movie in America. It took a late Jamaal Charles fumble returned for a TD for the Broncos to gain that victory in September of 2015.
A ninth straight win over the once-hated Broncos will further showcase the current gap between the two franchises. Quarterback Drew Lock is back in action following a shoulder injury and the team has actually won consecutive games against the Jets and Patriots. Even the most ardent Denver supporters should be questioning when and if their team can catch the consistency machine that the Chiefs have become.
Kansas City Chiefs/Denver Broncos Rivalry Notes
- The Chiefs/Texans went 19-1 against the Broncos from 1960-1961 and won 11 straight from 1964-1969.
- Denver owns the lone playoff victory over the Chiefs as the Broncos won at Arrowhead 14-10 in the divisional round of the AFC Playoffs in 1998.
- Chiefs and Broncos are the only two teams from the AFC West to win the division in the 2010’s. The Chiefs won in 2010, the Broncos won the next five and the Chiefs won the next four.
- Kansas City lead the all-time series 65-55
- In the 1990’s, the Chiefs and Broncos each won 10 games in the regular season.
For this to become a rivalry again, the Broncos need Drew Lock to pan out. GM John Elway’s track record has been disastrous since talking Peyton Manning into joining the team back in 2012.
From Trevor Siemian to Case Keenum and Joe Flacco, a major part of the Bronco demise has been the team’s fluent quarterback situation. If Lock can avoid the injury bug and become a reliable starter, there is a capable roster around him that can compete in the division.
Memorable Meetings Throughout the Years
- September 17th, 1990. John Elways first 4th quarter comeback against Marty Schottenheimer culminates in a 23-21 Broncos win.
- October 4th, 1992. Mile High Stadium becomes a true house of horrors for Schottenheimer’s Chiefs as Elway erases a 19-6 deficit in the 4th quarter to stun KC 20-19.
- October 17th, 1994. One of the most memorable Monday Night Football games of all time, Chiefs QB Joe Montana leads KC on a game-winning drive at Mile High Stadium to shock Denver 31-28.
- November 16th, 1997. Chiefs kicker Pete Stoyonavich connects on a 54-yard field goal to beat the Broncos 22-21 which helped clinch the division title.
- January 4th, 1998. Denver gets redemption in the playoffs with a controversial 14-10 victory.
- October 5th, 2003. Dante Hall returns a punt 93 yards in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs the lead for good in a game that would keep the team unbeaten.
- November 27, 2016. Chiefs kicker Cairo Santos connects on a 34-yard field goal as time expired in overtime to win the game. The kick hit the left upright before soaring though miraculously.
