(Photo Credit: Joe Amon/The Denver Post)

Chiefs square up against Broncos tonight

When you have the reigning MVP at quarterback and numerous endorsements for your credentials as a Super Bowl contender, you need to respond.

That’s exactly where the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves right now.

The Chiefs (3-2) have lost their last two games, both at home. With a short week behind them, they’re in Denver on Thursday night for an AFC West meeting with the Broncos (2-4), winners of their last two.

The Chiefs, behind QB Patrick Mahomes, are the NFL’s highest-scoring team but still one of its weaker ones defensively. They allowed 192 rushing yards in their loss to the Houston Texans. The Broncos come off a 16-0 shutout of the Tennessee Titans.

The KC defense was a hindrance last year and an overhaul apparently hasn’t fixed much. At least not yet.

“It’s not an effort thing, it’s a maintaining-your-position thing, and we have to do a better job of that, getting ourselves working together, not overcompensating and giving up lanes, and communicating better,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid says.

The Broncos, meanwhile, struggle on offense. But they’re capable of shutting teams down. They had seven sacks and three interceptions in downing the Titans and allowed just 204 yards. The defense has gone nine quarters without allowing a touchdown.

Fox will show Thursday night’s game at 8:20 p.m. ET. It’s also on the NFL Network and streamed through Amazon Prime Video.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman