Chiefs-Broncos NFL Week 18 predictions from Arrowhead Pride

Earlier than the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day, all however two of our Arrowhead Delight panelists picked the Chiefs to win. Our mixture prediction for a 23-18 win wasn’t superb, because it carried 28 factors of error: it missed the purpose unfold by 14, the Chiefs’ rating by six and the Steelers’ rating by eight. However our readers had been just about in step with our pondering: 19% thought Pittsburgh would win, and 63% thought it will be a detailed sport.

In Week 18, the Chiefs go on the street to complete their season in opposition to Denver Broncos at Empower Stadium. In line with FanDuel Sportsbook, Denver is favored by 10.5 factors.

Let’s see what the employees — and our readers — take into consideration the matchup.

Nate Christensen (@natech32)

As hilarious as it will be for the Chiefs to knock Denver out of the playoffs, I don’t discover many practical paths for Kansas Metropolis to win this sport. I believe Denver’s robust defensive entrance will damage the Chiefs’ backup offensive line, making it arduous to maneuver the ball. I may see the Kansas Metropolis protection preserving the rating low, however I believe the Broncos’ protection will be capable of do sufficient for them to drag away from the Chiefs.

Broncos 27, Chiefs 17

The Chiefs shall be up in opposition to a superb Broncos crew that desperately wants a win. Whereas Patrick Mahomes gained’t play — and different gamers like Chris Jones and Isiah Pacheco are additionally more likely to be held out — I don’t consider that essentially makes this sport an enormous loss. Carson Wentz is one of the best backup Mahomes has had — and this crew isn’t going to put down in opposition to a division rival. That is simply the toughest choose I’ve made this season. I may have gone both approach, however I’m sticking with 15-1.

Chiefs 20, Broncos 16

Though the Chiefs shall be resting most of their starters this Sunday, they’ll nonetheless compete to win the sport. For quarterback Carson Wentz, it is a golden alternative to show he’s nonetheless worthy of an NFL beginning job, so count on him to placed on a powerful efficiency. However with the Broncos preventing for his or her playoff lives, they’ll come out swinging. In the end, Denver’s protection will possible overwhelm Kansas Metropolis’s backup offense, permitting the Broncos to safe a hard-fought win and clinch the AFC’s No. 7 playoff seed.

Broncos 20, Chiefs 17

Within the fashionable historical past of Chiefs soccer, there have been some memorable season-closing video games in Denver. Jamaal Charles as soon as ran for 259 yards to maintain the Broncos from a successful document. One other time, Kyle Orton captained a 7-3 win to dam Denver from the playoffs. Since Patrick Mahomes’ NFL debut — that includes the primary of his 29 profession game-winning drives — these two have light from our recollections. However seven years after Mahomes’ second, I see Carson Wentz having his personal attention-grabbing efficiency that units him up for offseason job interviews. I count on the Chiefs’ backup gamers to show in impressed performances that spoil the Broncos’ playoff hopes.

Chiefs 23, Broncos 20

There are three objectives on this sport.

1.) Maintain Denver out of the postseason. That may add the stain of collapsing down the stretch and lacking out on the playoffs to Sean Payton’s resume. He was introduced into Denver to problem Andy Reid and the Chiefs for AFC West supremacy. To see him fail — and be surpassed by Jim Harbaugh in 12 months 1 of his Los Angeles Chargers tenure — would add a chef’s kiss to the season.

2.) Show that beneath the precise management, Carson Wentz nonetheless has what it takes to win. If Sam Darnold and Geno Smith have taught us something, it’s that NFL redemption tales are nonetheless doable.

3.) Repay the Miami Dolphins’ debt. Within the closing week of the 2019 season, the Dolphins beat the New England Patriots to offer Kansas Metropolis the AFC’s No. 1 seed, serving to the crew win its first Tremendous Bowl in 50 years. If the Chiefs beat the Broncos — and the Dolphins maintain enterprise in opposition to the New York Jets — then Miami makes the postseason. It’s time for Kansas Metropolis to pay up.

Chiefs 13, Broncos 10

I’m not going to overthink this one. A significant false impression surrounding this week’s narrative is that the Chiefs can’t deal with this like a preseason sport with a 90-man roster. Even with the crew’s most essential gamers possible watching from the sideline (or possibly not even touring to Denver), priceless rotational gamers shall be on the sector. With the playoffs on everybody’s thoughts, I count on the Chiefs to play a gentle sport to attenuate harm dangers — and prioritize transferring the clock forward of getting factors, padding stats or preserving Denver out of the playoffs.

Broncos 17, Chiefs 10

The Chiefs have nearly nothing to achieve this week. Starters shall be resting, reinforcements are getting more healthy and the No. 1 seed is locked in. The Broncos shall be preventing for his or her playoff lives in opposition to Kansas Metropolis’s backups. However that does not imply the legislation agency of Carson & Carson cannot get the job achieved. Historical past will bear in mind this Chiefs season based mostly on what occurs within the playoffs, however attending to 16-1 and going for the threepeat can be unbelievable. Sit again and revel in a no-pressure sport. It may go both approach.

Broncos 19, Chiefs 17

I do know nothing is on the road for the Chiefs, however I’m nonetheless intrigued by this sport. This season, Carson Wentz has change into a straightforward man to root for — and this matchup is crucial to him re-gaining an NFL beginning job. In the meantime, Kansas Metropolis — resting what I consider shall be most of its stars — has an opportunity to remove the Broncos by gutting out a win. All that stated, I believe Denver deserves some respect. I’m undecided Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is nice — or elite, as they are saying — however I do know he is excellent. I count on him to cap off his rookie yr by taking part in properly sufficient to get his crew within the postseason.

Broncos 28, Chiefs 24

With their predictions aggregated, our panelists count on the Chiefs to lose 20-18.

What do you suppose?

Rocky Magaña’s 27-13 prediction was one of the best of Week 17, with 10 factors of error. John Dixon and Pete Sweeney every referred to as for a Kansas Metropolis to win, however their 23-16 picks missed by 24 complete factors. That was ok to maneuver John to the highest of the standings.

To calculate a prediction’s factors of error, the variations between the prediction and the precise rating in level unfold, residence crew rating and away crew rating are added collectively. For instance, a prediction requires a 17-10 Chiefs win. They find yourself successful 16-10, so there have been two factors of error: the purpose unfold was off by one level, the Kansas Metropolis rating missed by one level and the opponent’s rating was predicted appropriately. But when the Chiefs lose the sport 17-10, there have been 28 factors of error within the prediction: the purpose unfold was off by 14 (the distinction between +7 and -7) and each scores missed by 7.