KC is Still Seeking Its Inaugural INVESCO Field Win

Denver owns a 48-23 (.676) record in regular season play at INVESCO Field, including an 8-0 mark against the Chiefs. Denver has lost three of its last four home contests, including losses vs. San Diego (11/22) and vs. Oakland (12/20), marking the first time the Broncos have lost two division home games in a season since 2000 (KC and SD). Denver hasn’t lost home games to the Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders in the same year since ‘94 and hasn’t been swept by the division at home in a non-strike season since ‘68. After a 6-0 start, the Broncos are 2-7 in their last nine games. The Chiefs have an eight-game losing streak at INVESCO Field. The only team with a longer winless streak at an active NFL stadium is Cincinnati, which is 0-10 all-time at Oakland.

Chiefs Are a Perfect 5-0 in Regular Season Finales vs. Denver
The Chiefs are a perfect 5-0 all-time in regular season finales vs. Denver. The last time these two teams met in the final game of the year, KC claimed a 42-20 triumph at Arrowhead (12/27/92) in a contest where the winner made the playoffs and the loser went home. While three of those five contests came before the AFL-NFL merger, the Chiefs did score 30 points or more in all of five of those contests, posting a 203-103 overall scoring edge vs. Denver. The Chiefs will be seeking to win their final regular season contest of the year for the first time since posting a 35-30 win vs. Jacksonville (12/31/06). KC’s last road win in a regular season finale was a 31-24 decision at Oakland (12/28/98).

A Fast Start, Strong Finish Are Imperative at Denver
The Chiefs have led at halftime in two of their three victories in 2009 and were tied 3-3 last week at Cincinnati (12/27). Kansas City scored a season-high 24 first-half points vs. Cleveland (12/20). Kansas City has led at halftime in two of its last four visits to INVESCO Field. However, the Chiefs have been shut out in the second half of their last two trips to Denver and have been outscored by a 46-10 margin after the half in their last four road contests vs. the Broncos.

Denver owns a 34-7 (.829) record when tied or leading at halftime dating back to 2005, including a 5-1 mark in 2009. The Broncos are 12-26 (.316) when trailing at halftime over the same span, including a 3-6 mark in 2009. In Denver’s eight wins, they have outscored their foes by a 116-23 margin in the second half, holding all of those opponents to seven points or less in the second half, including four second-half shutouts. The Broncos have been held to seven points or less in the fi rst half of six of their seven losses. Denver has been outscored by a 94-40 margin in the fi rst half of its losses and has been outpointed by a 101-59 margin in the second half of those seven contests.

More Chiefs-Broncos Scoring Stats
The Chiefs will need to increase their scoring output if they seek to depart Denver with a victory. KC has averaged 16.1 ppg in its first seven road games of the year. KC’s defense has permitted 40 points (13.3 ppg) in its three wins. KC has allowed 17 points or less in five games, including last week’s contest at Cincinnati (12/27). The Chiefs have scored a combined 40 points (10.0 ppg) in their last four trips to Denver, while allowing 104 points (26.0 ppg).

Denver has outscored its opponents by a 203-85 margin (25.4 to 10.6 ppg) in its eight wins and has been outscored by a 195-99 margin (27.9 to 14.1 ppg) in its seven losses. The Broncos have been held to 21 points or less in six of those setbacks. Dating back to 2007, Denver is 5-21 (.192) when being held to 21 points or less. Since INVESCO Field opened in 2001, the Broncos are 40-5 (.889) at home when holding opponents to 21 points or less. Overall, Denver has allowed 21 points or more in six of its seven losses and has permitted 21 points or less in seven of its eight wins.

Dating back to 2001, the Broncos are 34-2 (.944) when scoring 30 points or more. Denver has won eight straight under those circumstances, including a pair of wins against the Chiefs. The Broncos have averaged 34.6 ppg in their last three wins. Denver is 17-1 (.944) all-time at INVESCO Field when scoring 30 points or more with that lone home loss came by a 34-31 margin vs. Indianapolis (10/29/06).

Chiefs Make Substantial Gains in Key Defensive Areas
Kansas City has made substantial progress in several key defensive areas. Most notably, the Chiefs currently rank ninth in the league with a 25.1 three-andout percentage. KC is allowing opponents to convert 9.9% fewer of their third downs and is permitting 15.7 fewer passing yards per game. In terms of total defensive possessions, only San Francisco (191 possessions) has been on the field more frequently than Kansas City (187) and Arizona (187). Here is a look at the club’s final rankings from 2008 compared to the 15-game mark in 2009.

K Ryan Succop Has Been Quite Relevant in 2009
While Chiefs K Ryan Succop earned the label of “Mr. Irrelevant” as the 256th and fi nal selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, he has connected on 22 of 26 FGs (84.6%), surpassing the Chiefs rookie record of 21 established by Hall of Fame K Jan Stenerud in ‘67. Among Chiefs rookie kickers, only Stenerud (108 in ‘67) and K Jack Spikes (104 in ‘60) have scored more points than Succop (90). No rookie in the NFL owns more points than Succop, who has accounted for 36.0% of Kansas City’s points (90 of 250) in 2009. He has a pair of FGs from 50+ yards this season, a figure only K Nick Lowery has surpassed for KC.

QB Matt Cassel Seeking to Close Season on a Winning Note
Chiefs QB Matt Cassel is seeking to become the first KC signal caller to register a victory in his initial start at Denver since QB Bill Kenney, who guided Kansas City to a 37-16 win (12/19/82). Cassel has thrown 16 TDs in his debut campaign with KC, the highest tally by a passer in his first season with the Chiefs since QB Trent Green threw 17 TDs and 24 INTs in 2001. Cassel has thrown 15 INTs this season. Green was even better in season two as a starter for the Chiefs, throwing 26 TDs and 13 INTs in 2002 before guiding the club to an AFC West title with a 13-3 record in 2003.

Denver has posted a 35-1 (.972) record when its QB posts a 100.0+ rating (min. 20 atts.) dating back to 2002, including 13 straight wins. Denver has lost seven consecutive games when allowing an opposing QB to post a 100.0+ rating dating back to 2008. Cassel is 5-1 as a starter with a 100.0+ rating.

Chiefs-Broncos Turnover Stats
The Chiefs are seeking to register a positive turnover differential for the 16th time since ‘90. KC is currently even (25 takes/25 gives) and is tied for third in the NFL with 13 opponent fumble recoveries. KC is also tied for sixth in the NFL with five takeaways in the Red Zone. Kansas City and Tennessee are the only two teams that have not committed a turnover in the Red Zone in 2009. The Chiefs have forced 14 takeaways (7 FRs, 7 INTs) in the last six games and have gone four straight games with an INT. Denver is 22-2 (.917) at home dating back to 2005 when even or positive in the turnover column, including a 5-1 mark this season. The Broncos are 3-12 (.200) at home over that same span when negative. Kansas City and Denver both committed three turnovers in the first meeting between the two teams at Arrowhead (12/6).

Chiefs-Broncos Rushing Notes, Final Statistical Tidbits
RB Jamaal Charles has three straight 100-yard games. The last KC back to top the century mark at Denver was RB Larry Johnson - 126 yards (9/17/06) ... The Broncos haven’t gone an entire season without producing an individual 100-yard rusher at home since ‘92. Both of RB Correll Buckhalter’s 100-yard efforts in 2009 have come on the road … The Broncos are 14-7 (.667) at home dating back to 2005 when producing a 100-yard back and are 5-19 (.208) over the same span at home when allowing one … The Chiefs haven’t outgained the Broncos on the ground in Denver since racking up 177 yards and allowing 83 (12/5/99). In KC’s eight visits to INVESCO Field, Denver has averaged 197.0 rushing ypg and has scored 15 rushing TDs, compared to 96.9 ypg and seven rushing TDs for KC, a 100.1 ypg difference … KC’s last rushing TD in Denver came from RB Priest Holmes (9/12/04) ... Kansas City has allowed a total of 269 net passing yards in its last three games.