The Chiefs will face a real good news bad news scenario this week as they travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. The bad news the Denver Broncos are in first place in the AFC west and are a sure fire playoff team, the good news the Chiefs have already beaten the Broncos this season.

The Broncos will undoubtedly be trying to prove that their defeat to the Chiefs earlier in the season was nothing more than a bi product of the any given Sunday rule. The Chiefs will be trying to prove that last week?s victory over than Raiders was a sign of things to come and that they have finally turned the corner . The Chiefs hold the 53-43 all time advantage over the Broncos, but the Chiefs have not won in Denver since 2000.

Embattled RB Larry Johnson should be focused for the match up, he recently got his court hearing delayed till January and the last time he faced the Broncos he went off for 198 yards. But a lot of things have changed since the last time these two teams met, Damon Huard is on the IR , Derrick Johnson has moved to MLB, Donnie Edwards and Patrick Surtain have missed a majority of the season and the Chiefs run a completely different offense than the one they ran in week 4.

The Broncos meanwhile have went thru five running backs over the course of the season and have had a plethora of injuries much like the Chiefs. Despite the injuries Denver has kept its running game going, last week rookie Peyton Hillis ran for 129 yards on 22 carries.

The running games for both teams should excel in this game, the Chiefs have recently climbed out of the cellar but are still ranked 31st in the league in rushing defense and the Broncos are ranked 28th. The Broncos have a problem of playing up or down to their respective competition they have beaten play off contenders Atlanta, the New York Jets and Tampa Bay but have lost to cellar dwellers Kansas City, Oakland and Jacksonville.

Denver currently has a three game strangle hold on the AFC west if the Broncos hope to phone this one in the Chiefs will be looking to take advantage. The last time these two squads squared up turnovers were the story the Chiefs caused four turnovers and won the game they even had a sack which has only happened six times this season.

The Keys to the Game

Stop Peyton Hillis: No matter who the Broncos put in the backfield over the years they always run the ball effectively, a bi product of the zone blocking scheme the Broncos seem to have a different 1,000 yard rusher each year. This season?s flavor of the month has been Peyton Hillis who is on pace to out rush his counter parts from last seasons Arkansas team Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. The Chiefs have not faced Hillis before and if they let Hillis go off it opens up the Broncos play action passing game and bootlegs which could make for a long day.

Win the turnover battle: With as poorly as the Broncos played last time they faced the Chiefs they still only lost because they could not compensate for their four turnovers. The Broncos are simply a far more talented team right now with the Chiefs in their infancy of their development, ad if the Chiefs want to repeat their week 4 performance they will need a handful of Jay Cutler turnovers again. Additionally the Chiefs cannot afford QB Tyler Thigpen to be as careless with the ball as he has been the last two weeks.

Keep a eye on both Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall: There are only two big play threats on this Broncos offense and the Chiefs would be wise to take advantage of that and keep them double covered the entire game. Last time these two receivers faced the Chiefs young corners Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers the battle was almost a wash The Brandons got some turnovers but Eddie Royal had 9 catches for 109 yards and Brandon Marshall had 7 catches for 77 yards and a TD. The Chiefs have lost a lot of players on defense since then a need to keep these two in check to get the W.

Injury Report

Donnie Edwards LB Knee Out

Patrick Surtain CB Quadricep Out

Mark Bradley WR Calf Out

Patrick Thomas LB Hamstring Questionable

Adrian Jones G Ankle Questionable

Tamba Hali DE Ankle Probable

Rudy Niswanger C Ankle Probable

Wade Smith C Ankle Probable

Broncos Report

D.J. Williams LB Knee Doubtful

Champ Bailey CB Groin Questionable

Ebenezer Ekuban DE Back Questionable

Spencer Larsen LB Groin Questionable

Marlon McCree S Ankle Questionable

Ben Hamilton G Wrist Probable

Peyton Hillis RB Hip Probable

Chad Jackson WR Ankle Probable

Brandon Marshall WR Hip Probable

Kenny Peterson DT Achilles Probable

P..J. Pope RB Ribs Full Participation in Practice Probable

Dewayne Robertson DT Knee Probable

Nate Webster LB Knee Probable

Selvin Young RB Groin Probable

Weather Report: Weather at kickoff will be 53 degrees partly cloudy and a 6 mile per hour north westerly breeze

Final Score: Broncos 27 Chiefs 16

The Chiefs have grown since the early part of the season, but going into Denver is a very hostile environment especially for a young team that inherited a eight year losing streak in Denver.. The Chiefs need to avoid getting down early which could get them rattled and lead to a very long day.

Last time the Chiefs were in Denver they lost 41-7, hopefully they remember how quickly things can spiral out of control at Mile High. Denver will come out with a lot of energy and they know with a victory they will