Heading into Monday Night’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, there are three specific storylines I have my eyes on in Week 1 as the Denver Broncos get ready to kick off the season.
Denver Broncos three storylines to watch for vs. Kansas City Chiefs
There are so many storylines for the Denver Broncos matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, including Bo Nix and Patrick Mahomes first regular-season game back since their injuries last year, Davis Webb’s first look as an offensive play caller, you name it. But there are three specific ones that I have my eyes on.
Bo Nix looks to be uncaged vs. Chiefs
Bo Nix is champing at the bit to get into game mode, and that will come on Monday Night. He’s been locked in all training camp long and has had a tremendous camp, and the Broncos themselves endured the grind that is a Sean Payton training camp. Now they’re ready to go and are ready to adjust along the way.
Earlier this week, Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton equated Nix to a caged mountain lion. Nix gave us a witty response that also carries some truth behind it.
“I guess that is a good comparison and one that I will take,” Nix said. “I definitely think the thing about mountain lions is usually that when you notice them, it’s because they noticed you a long time ago. I’m just excited to get out there. I feel like I’m pacing and feel like I’ve been in this practice schedule for a long time. It’s exciting to go out there and play another team. It’s really exciting and I know that our guys are going to respond well. I feel like I have a great group with me that I’m going in here with. I can’t wait.”
What better way to unleash Nix than getting the run game going and getting new offensive weapon Jaylen Waddle involved? The Chiefs will try to pressure the offense consistently in key passing-down situations, but they’ll also drop back into mixed coverage looks where they’ll bounce back and forth between Cover 2 and Cover 4.
The Broncos offense has playmakers that can beat man and zone coverage, and if they can come out early and run the ball well, it opens up Nix to paint on a clean canvas on Monday Night.
Will the Broncos dress five or six wide receivers?
This is arguably one of the bigger roster personnel decisions the Broncos and Sean Payton will have to make before Monday Night’s game. Denver has six wide receivers on their active roster, but it would be hard to dress six unless you sacrifice numbers at another position.
Could this be a game where the Broncos have six active defensive linemen because of Kenneth Walker’s added presence inside of the Chiefs’ offense? You can make an argument for that.
Five wide receivers seems like the move in my opinion, and if the Broncos ultimately agree, the decision then transitions to who the fifth guy is and who the inactive guy is on game day.
Marvin Mims has been present for the media viewing portion of practice, and if he’s able to go on Monday Night, his roster status on gameday isn’t even a question.
That leaves Denver to decide between Troy Franklin and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Franklin had some important catches specifically against the Chiefs last season, in Week 11, to help the Broncos beat Kansas City at home.
Franklin possesses range and speed that are valuable in the passing game, especially if Kansas City focuses on Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle primarily. That creates more opportunities for guys like Franklin, Mims, and Pat Bryant to have a big impact. Humphrey could as well, but Franklin feels like the guy I would have active as the fifth receiver.
Which Broncos DBs cover KC’s WR threats?
On paper, all signs point to Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II matching up against Rashee Rice on Monday Night, which leaves Riley Moss against Xavier Worthy to match his speed, and Ja’Quan McMillian against Tyquan Thornton, who has good size and explosive ability in the vertical passing game.
How Andy Reid and the Chiefs offense operate, it might not always be ideal to just stick to these matchups on a down to down basis, but this Broncos secondary has the versatility to where all three guys can cover all three of their top wide receivers.
Surtain will also likely draw some coverage assignments against Travis Kelce, but it wouldn’t be a shock if Jahdae Barron gets that role when the Broncos get into their dime package.
The Chiefs’ receiving threats feel like a collectively better group for Patrick Mahomes this year than what we’ve seen in the last handful of years.
