The Denver Broncos travel east to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in one of the best matchups of NFL Week 13. The two franchises are fighting for AFC West division supremacy for the second year in a row as Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ high-flying offense looks to outplay the Chiefs’ stout defense and oftentimes devastating running game led by Jamaal Charles.
Many will place the whole burden to produce in this contest on Manning. However, when looking a bit deeper, it is apparent that it instead is RB C.J. Anderson who becomes the key to a victory on the road.
The Chiefs’ defense is among the best in the NFL, but has been much better against the pass than it has the run. Although the Broncos have two of the most dynamic WRs in the game in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, there is a good chance they will be without TE Julius Thomas for the second straight week. Even if he is to play, the Chiefs have been solid all season at shutting down tight ends.
Anderson is not a physically imposing back and instead relies on quickness, so if he is not able to establish the run early and often in this game, the Chiefs will be able to send extra coverage to Thomas’ and Sanders’ way; perhaps a safety that otherwise would have been cheating down somewhat to help out with the run.
If Anderson can strike enough fear into the Chiefs’ hearts with some big gains early, even if they come from check down passes out of the backfield, this will likely negate the Chiefs’ main gameplan and disrupt their evening.
Even against a solid secondary one must assume Sanders and Thomas are going to get their big-time average production. But in this contest, it might not be enough. That puts the onus on Anderson’s performance as it is unlikely the Chiefs will be able to slow down the Broncos on two fronts throughout this whole game.
Timothy Downs is a fantasy sports writer for www.RantSports.com. You can ‘like him’ on Facebook add him on Google or follow him on Twitter @Tidow1212.
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