12 straight losses, a offense that can’t get going and a defense that is falling apart. Not the most opportune time to be playing the hottest team in the NFL but that is exactly the task ahead of the Chiefs as they try to get back on track against the Broncos Sunday at Arrowhead.

Quarterback Jay Cutler is off to one of the best starts in the league with 8 touchdowns to go with only 2 interceptions and the Broncos as a team are averaging 38 points per game. The one weakness that has been exposed on the undefeated Broncos is a defense that has trouble getting stops and got bailed out by some bad officiating calls.

Herm Edwards has made the decision this week to go with QB Damon Huard as the starter, Herm stated he needed “someone to protect the football”. Safe to say that may spell the end to the Tyler Thigpen experiment barring a injury …..which is always a possibility with Huard. QB Brodie Croyle looks to be a t least another week away and may come back after the Chiefs bye week on October 19th. Huard has been in this position before it’s his bread and butter, it’s what he has done and excelled at in this league since year player serving as Dan Marino’s backup.

Keys to the game

1. Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr vs. the Broncos triplets: This one may be a lost cause, while both Flowers and Carr have both played well for being new to the NFL they maybe simply overmatched here. When the Chiefs played the Patriots who have Randy Moss and Wes Welker, Patrick Surtain was healthy and Tom Brady was not. Brandon Marshall has been on a roll since serving his one game suspension and went for 18 catches and 166 yards against a very good Chargers cornerback tandem.

If the Chiefs roll their coverage to double team Marshall rookie receiver Eddie Royal has proven he is also a force to be reckoned with and can burn a defense, Royal did light a pair of Pro Bowl corners up in Oakland to the tune of 9 catches for 146 yards. Broncos QB Jay Cutler is having his breakout season with these two receivers and the Chiefs will be hard pressed to stop them.

2.Keep Larry Johnson rolling: It is very simple with the style of football the Chiefs play if you can run the football and control the clock you can win the game. Last week Johnson had his first 100 yard game of the season and seems to have broken out of his slump. The main objective for the Chiefs and more specifically Chan Gailey against the Broncos is to find more running plays the Chiefs can execute. Last week Johnson did get his yards, but a majority of the successful ones were tosses to the right side. You cannot run the same play consistently two weeks in a row in the NFL and expect it to work coaches study film and defenses adapt. The Chiefs have a winning record when Larry Johnson goes for over a hundred yards , the Broncos one weak link has been their defense. Larry Johnson has not had this favorable of a matchup all season and he needs to capitalize and carry the Chiefs to victory.

3.Protect Damon Huard: The Chiefs morale just simply cannot take another loss especially at home in front of their fans. That is why Damon Huard is back in the lineup he may not be the QB of the future

But he gives the Chiefs the best chance to win and the young players around him the best chance to develop. Huard can be very effective when given time in the pocket to find holes in the defense. One thing Huard cannot do is make plays on the run and scramble around. If he starts to take hit some hits Huard could aggravate one of his numerous injuries and thrust Tyler Thigpen back into the lineup. Denver’s defense is soft and if Huard is given time he is a intelligent enough QB to the pick their defense apart.

Injury report:

QB:Brodie Croyle- Shoulder, out

CB: Pat Surtain- Shoulder, out

LB: Donnie Edwards- Ankle, out

KR: B.J. Sams – Hamstring, questionable

Broncos Report

DT: John Shaw- Groin, out

RB: Ryan Torian- Elbow, out

WR: Darrell Jackson- Calf, questionable

DT: Dewayne Robertson- Knee, questionable

Weather report

One could not ask for better game weather kickoff at Arrow head will be 75 degrees and sunny with a six mile per hour southern breeze.

Final Score: Chiefs 28 Broncos 24

I know the Broncos have superior talent and are the hottest team in the NFL and the Chiefs are spiraling

but the Broncos are a young team and may not know how to handle their new found success. The Chiefs are as desperate as it gets and a desperate team can be a scary one. The Chiefs will throw every thing they have at the Broncos on Sunday they have no other choice. Look for the Chiefs to try to throw a lot of blitz packages at Jay Cutler to try and get in his face and rattle him a little bit. If the Chiefs can’t slow down the Broncos arial attack the Chiefs will have no hope but if the Broncos over look the Chiefs they could be reminded that on any given Sunday any body can beat anybody