KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With only four days between games, the Kansas City Chiefs have a short turnaround this week as they travel to Denver for a Thursday night AFC West showdown.
Coach Andy Reid and company have started off the second quarter of the season with an 0-2 slump.
Thursday night games against AFC West foes historically have not gone well under Reid, who has a 1-4 record in those games with the lone win coming against the Oakland Raiders at home in 2016*.
* Many will remember that game as the second time linebacker Derrick Johnson went down with a ruptured Achilles’ injury in early December.
The Chiefs will have to flip the page on that sad Thursday night past and the recent downturn with an even tougher stretch versus the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans ahead.
Denver has a fundamentally sound pass defense that likes to keep plays in front of it, but the front four has struggled to generate pressure regularly until last week against an indecisive Marcus Mariota.
The Broncos’ difference-makers on defense are cornerback Chris Harris and safety Justin Simmons.
Offensively, Denver tries to run a scheme similar to Joe Flacco's successful years in Baltimore, but the offensive line is still a work in progress.
The Broncos’ key players on offense are running back Phillip Lindsay and wide receiver Courtland Sutton.
Kansas City can snap a two-game skid and end Denver’s two-game win streak if they follow these keys to victory below:
1. Five on line defensively
The Chiefs had some success with run blitzes last week with linebacker Ben Niemann.
Kansas City could trip up Denver’s offensive line with the equivalent of a five-man front. They will need to walk up a linebacker to the line, which would force the offensive line to abandon its double teams.
The Broncos need to run the ball to be successful.
It is what makes Flacco's rhythm passing effective, so he needs the run to work in order to attack voids created over the middle with play-action.
Linsday provides Denver with an explosive runner, but his line lacks the overall strength for effective one-on-one blocking. They need counters and double teams to be successful.
Putting five defenders on the line of scrimmage limits that possibility.
2. Make Flacco hold ball
Flacco is a rhythm passer. His accuracy and the velocity he puts on throws is based on being in rhythm.
He needs to get the football out of his hands after the back foot hits on his initial drop.
Otherwise, Flacco will hold the football too long or he will hop forward to reset his feet.
Once that happens, his passes become inaccurate. The ball will sail over receivers’ heads, be off the mark by a few steps, or arrive late and behind receivers.
Flacco doesn't need to be sacked; he just needs to have the timing of his initial and secondary reads disrupted, which puts added pressure on the Chiefs’ secondary to be precise in coverage and allow the rush to get home.
3. Use play-action over middle
The Broncos’ defense crashes hard on the run fakes, which creates some serious voids when they are forced to commit to stopping the run.
When that happens, the middle of the field is left wide open to exploit between the numbers.
Opposing teams have found significant success when doing so.
4. Space out Denver’s D, double point of attack
The Chiefs have a unique advantage given the number of receiving threats on their roster.
Denver doesn't have the strong interior defensive line of recent seasons, so Kansas City can double team the defensive tackles and find favorable numbers in the box with proper spacing.
Kansas City must be committed to holding its double teams up to the second level and can find success if they are willing to do so.
5. Check downs to RBs
Denver doesn't have the fastest linebackers in the NFL, so teams have routinely moved the chains by isolating their linebackers against running backs and other receivers out of the backfield.
It’s a way to help move the chains and sustain drives by taking what the Broncos give until they loosen up and open up more deep shots.
6. Screen and misdirect
The Broncos’ defense struggles against the screen pass, while the Chiefs are arguably one of the better screen teams in the NFL.
Denver can be overly aggressive in pursuit against the run and pass, which leaves them vulnerable against screens, reverses and misdirection plays.
Kansas City won't be able to run such plays every series, but they can be effective to convert in key situations or jump start a drive.
7. Stack for space
Kansas City found success last week when they allowed wide receiver Tyreek Hill to create cushion for the other receiver who lined up off the line of scrimmage next to him.
Teams respect Hill's speed but are forced to either press him on the line of scrimmage or give cushion to both receivers.
The Chiefs will able to get fellow wide receivers Mecole Hardman Jr. and Demarcus Robinson clean releases using this strategy.
If the Broncos elect to get physical with the Chiefs’ receivers through press coverage, Kansas City can use Hill or tight end Travis Kelce on the line of scrimmage with Hardman and Robinson off the line stacked behind them to help create clean releases for Hardman and Robinson.
8. Win field-position battle
This one is at the bottom of the list because of the inability of the Chiefs’ defense to get off the field.
But if Kansas City can force punter Colby Wadman to see the field, it can win the field position battle. He doesn’t always have the deepest punts or best hang time in recent games despite punting in favorable condition in the mile-high Denver air.
The Chiefs have been played three consecutive physical games.
Now, they face a short week on the road in the Denver air. It will be a tough mountain to climb with so much stacked against them right now, including injuries.
But this also is a significant opportunity for Kansas City to show what it’s capable of on a national stage in a crucial game given the recent poor performances.
A win puts them in great position at 5-2 and atop the AFC West with the chance for significant rest before another prime time game Oct. 27 on 41 Action News against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.
Nick Jacobs can be found on Twitter: @Jacobs71. You can also download the weekly 4th and 1 podcast on Apple, Google Podcast, Spotify and Stitcher.
