Oakland Raiders-Kansas City Chiefs Preview: 5 Questions

Dec 1, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) talks to Denver Broncos free safety Michael Huff (29) after the game at Arrowhead Stadium. Denver won the game 35-28. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kansas City are in a race for the AFC West title going into the stretch, do you think they can knock off the Denver Broncos?

Assuming the Chiefs come out of Oakland with a win, they will at worst have the same record as the Broncos heading into a Sunday Night Football game at Arrowhead a week from Sunday. That game may decide the AFC West.

Both Kansas City and Denver have difficult but navigable schedules from here on out. I also don’t think Denver is quite as good as they were a year ago specifically because their running game has taken a significant step back. At this stage, Manning needs that running game to at least be a weapon, and for the most part it hasn’t been this season. How much of that is on Knowshon leaving or on the offensive line, I don’t know. But I think Denver is less impenetrable than they were a season ago.

The question really because do I think KC can beat Denver at home and survive the rest of the schedule. I like the chances of KC beating Denver at home, especially in primetime. There is a lot of rage around here that wants to be unleashed on Peyton and the Broncos that been building up for some time, so the crowd is going to be insane. It’s at the very least a winnable game for KC.

After that the Chiefs are at Arizona, vs. Oakland, at Pittsburgh, and vs. San Diego. Go 3-1 in that stretch and I think the Chiefs will have a decent shot at taking the division.