Denver Broncos are Clear AFC Favorite With Win Over Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday night, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs squared off in this year’s most anticipated matchup yet. The league’s number one offense took on the number one defense. Could it get any better for a football fan? Absolutely not.

I’m not going to give you a recap, here. What I am going to say, though, is that by game’s end we knew exactly what AFC team is in a league of their own. The Broncos simply outplayed the Chiefs in every aspect Sunday night and established themselves as the favorite in the conference.

Remember, this is a Chiefs team that was only giving up 12 points per game on defense. This is a defense that featured two guys, coming in, that had averaged at least a sack per game this year. Justin Houston and Tamba Hali have been the best pass-rushing duo in the league, and it’s not even close.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense didn’t batter the Chiefs defense. They just won convincingly. Manning didn’t have to go on any record-breaking rampage and toss another seven touchdowns or throw for 500 yards. He was simply efficient. He didn’t throw an interception, although did lose a fumble. But in the end he was, well, his typical Manning self.

What Denver can do both offensively and defensively, as proven in this latest win, is unmatched throughout the rest of the AFC. As a complete roster, these Broncos are clear cut favorites in the conference. Offensively, I don’t even need to give you an argument. Defensively, these guys get after the quarterback, have an aggressive secondary and for the most part they can stop the run.

With the final third of the season about to get under way, the Broncos look like there is nothing stopping them from obtaining that number one seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The only big test for the remainder of the season, outside another game against Kansas City, is next week’s showdown with the New England Patriots.

We’ll see how I feel next week after the Broncos take on the Patriots, but I genuinely don’t believe the Patriots’ defense is good enough to hold Manning under 30 points. Can Tom Brady outscore Denver with an inconsistent offense? That will be quite the fight next week and we’re going to find out.

Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.