The Denver Broncos will look to prove their 2025 season was no fluke when they head to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Denver won both matches against their AFC West rivals last season, which helped them top the division with a 14-3 record.
After years of success under coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs missed out on the playoffs after finishing with a 6-11 record. A serious knee injury to Patrick Mahomes derailed their plans, but he returns this week as the Chiefs try to prove last year was a one-off.
Kansas City Chiefs v Denver Broncos Betting Tips
Best Bet - Under 43.5 Points @ 10/11
Alternative Bet - Denver Broncos +2.5 @ 10/11
Bet Builder - Jaylen Waddle to score a TD, Jaylen Waddle Over 52.5 Receiving Yards, Kenneth Walker III - Over 15.5 Rushing Attempts @ 6/1
Kansas City Chiefs v Denver Broncos Prediction
Best Bet: Under 43.5 Points @ 10/11
Games between these two sides have often been low-scoring affairs and the last six meetings have not surpassed 41 points.
Denver's defence last season was ruthless in several departments, with Sean Payton's team only conceding 278.2 yards per game, the second-fewest in the NFL.
They had the second-best rush defence in the NFL, and they should get plenty of joy against the Chiefs' offensive line.
While the Chiefs have Mahomes back under centre, they are without left tackle Josh Simmons. As a result, Denver should be able to slow down the Chiefs' momentum.
Neither team averaged more than 24 points on offence last season, and with this being a Week 1 matchup, it makes sense to side with the unders in a divisional grudge match.
Alternative Bet: Denver Broncos +2.5 @ 10/11
Denver finished 2025 with a 5-1 divisional record and while they are playing away from home in this clash, they can still give the Chiefs numerous problems.
Mahomes is back, but there is no guarantee he is back to his best after such a long lay-off. He threw 11 interceptions in 14 games last season, including one against Denver.
The Broncos secondary is elite and Denver's success in this fixture last season is hard to ignore.
Kansas City Chiefs v Denver Broncos Bet Builder Tip
Jaylen Waddle to score a TD
Jaylen Waddle Over 52.5 Receiving Yards
Kenneth Walker III - Over 15.5 Rushing Attempts
Pays @ 6/1
The Broncos traded for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in March, giving up three picks for his services.
Waddle had to deal with quarterback issues at the Miami Dolphins last year, yet he still finished the campaign with 910 receiving yards.
The Chiefs lost cornerback Trent McDuffie in a trade to the Los Angeles Rams, so Waddle should come up against a weaker defence.
Waddle scored six touchdowns in 2025 and he looks good value to score a touchdown anytime.
The Denver offence is pass heavy, meaning Waddle should be busy throughout the match on Tuesday.
He surpassed 52.5 receiving yards on 13 occasions last year and it would not be a surprise to see quarterback Bo Nix target him early and often to get him up to speed in the Denver offence.
With Kansas quarterback Mahomes on his way back from injury, the Chiefs will likely lean heavily on running back Kenneth Walker III, who joined as a free agent after winning the NFL Championship with the Seattle Seahawks.
Walker III should lead the Chiefs' charge from the backfield and he surpassed 15.5 rushing attempts in 10 games for the Seahawks last season.
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Key Match Stats
The Kansas City Chiefs finished the 2025 season with a 6-11 record
Kansas had a 1-5 record in the AFC West last season
The Denver Broncos finished the 2025 season with a 14-3 record
Denver beat the Chiefs in both of their AFC West meetings in 2025
The Broncos defence conceded the second-fewest yards on offence in 2025 with 278.2
Jaylen Waddle finished the 2025 season with 910 receiving yards and six touchdowns
Tactics, Form and Team News
The Chiefs will be without offensive tackle Simmons due to a back injury, while defensive back Chamarri Conner is sidelined with a knee issue.
Chris Jones has recovered from a calf injury and should feature, while Mahomes was also able to fully practice last week ahead of kick-off.
The Broncos have a fully-fit squad to choose from, with wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. a full participant in practice after shaking off a foot injury.
Read more NFL betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
