Broncos aim to clinch playoff berth with Week 18 win over Chiefs

CAN COURTLAND SUTTON AND MARVIN MIMS JR. TAKE ADVANTAGE?

Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. mixed for 13 catches for 158 yards and three touchdowns in Week 17 in opposition to the Bengals, and the Broncos’ main receivers might make one other large affect on Sunday.

Kansas Metropolis dominated out cornerback Jaylen Watson — who stays on injured reserve — whereas itemizing beginning cornerback Trent McDuffie and beginning security Justin Reid as uncertain for the sport.

Sutton sits simply 17 yards away from his second 1,000-yard season as a professional, and the Broncos would certainly profit from him having a standout afternoon. He has 11 video games with a minimum of 50 receiving yards this season, and solely Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Malik Nabers, Drake London and CeeDee Lamb have extra such video games this 12 months.

Mims, in the meantime, has lined up all around the area for the Broncos — and made a Professional Bowl-worthy affect as a returner as properly. If Mims can observe up the perfect efficiency of his profession with one other robust exhibiting on Sunday, Denver might assist use chunk performs to place away the Chiefs.

“At first, they sort of began me off little by little with the working again stuff after which now it is rising because the season goes alongside,” Mims mentioned Thursday. “Actually, it is simply memorization for probably the most half. We exit right here on the follow area they usually see issues they like [as well as] they see issues they do not like. Issues change over time, however on the finish of the day, it is simply memorization [with] receiver, working again and return stuff. It is actually simply being a playmaker and making performs [in] a sure scenario. It is by no means simply image excellent. On the finish of the day, you simply must take what’s there.”

If Sutton and Mims can seize maintain of these alternatives, Denver may very well be poised to seek out offensive success.

WILL DENVER’S PRO BOWL DEFENDERS MAKE IMPACT PLAYS?

Whereas the Chiefs are anticipated to be with out offensive playmakers like Patrick Mahomes, Isiah Pacheco, Mecole Hartman, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt, Kansas Metropolis are nonetheless anticipated to have gifted gamers out on the sphere on Sunday.

Large receivers Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, DeAndre Hopkins and JuJu Smith-Schuster weren’t among the many gamers listed on the Chiefs’ closing damage report, nor have been beginning offensive linemen D.J. Humphries, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith.

And at quarterback, former second-overall decide Carson Wentz has discovered success in one of these scenario earlier than. In his lone begin of 2023, Wentz accomplished 17-of-24 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a 99.8 passer score whereas additionally dashing 17 instances for 56 yards and a landing in a win.

“He is on this league for a purpose,” Payton mentioned Wednesday. “He is large, and he is robust. He was a first-round draft decide. … It is the participant, however it’s additionally the whole lot round it and understanding what they’re making an attempt to do.”

Cornerback Pat Surtain II and outdoors linebacker Nik Bonitto — each of whom have been named Professional Bowlers this week — might be among the many Broncos defenders seeking to decelerate Wentz and Co. Denver’s protection has given up a minimum of 30 factors in 4 consecutive video games, however the unit has additionally made game-changing performs. Bonitto has a pair of defensive touchdowns to go together with his 11.5 sacks, whereas Surtain continues to lock down the opposing prime receiver every week. Surtain additionally recorded a compelled fumble and fumble restoration that set the Broncos up with an opportunity to take a fourth-quarter lead in opposition to the Bengals.

“Once you take a look at the receivers he is defended and the affect he is had for us, and the way we have performed defensively and all these different issues, it is a simple case to make,” mentioned Payton when requested about Surtain’s Defensive Participant of the Yr candidacy. “… Actually, he is deserving of that sort of award. He is that good.”

And whereas defensive lineman Zach Allen didn’t earn a visit to the Professional Bowl, he may very well be one other defender that would assist the Broncos gradual Kansas Metropolis on Sunday. Allen leads the NFL with 39 quarterback hits and will be a part of J.J. Watt, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa and Aaron Donald as the one gamers with 40 quarterback hits since 2006. Each Allen (8.5 sacks) and Jonathan Cooper (9.5 sacks) are additionally inside placing distance of the primary double-digit sack campaigns of their careers.

If the Broncos can stress Wentz whereas Surtain and the secondary present tight protection, it might assist Denver’s protection bounce again in a giant means.