Last week was a rollercoaster ride for the two teams. The Denver Broncos managed to outdo themselves and gave away a record 70 points to the Miami Dolphins while scoring only 20 themselves. The Kansas City Chiefs performed as expected from a reigning Super Bowl champion. They beat the Chicago Bears 41-10. But the highlight of the Bears match was Taylor Swift cheering for her date, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce. But the happiness is not going to last as the latest injury report has thrown several casualties.

The 2-1 Chiefs will ride out to the MetLife Stadium to face off against the New York Jets. The 0-3 Denver Broncos, meanwhile, will face off against the Chiefs’ previous rival, the Chicago Bears. Will the list of injuries dampen the two teams’ prospects?

Key casualties put teams at risk

According to the latest injury report released by the Chiefs, names that stand out include Chris Jones, Kadarius Toney and Nick Bolton. While the offense has surely picked up from their deplorable performance against the Lions, the defense has been consistently bringing their A-game. However, DE Chris Jones’ name on the list is cause for concern. He is Mahomes’ main defensive weapon and his potential absence will hamper the Chiefs’ defense. LB Nick Bolton’s ankle injury will see him sidelined in the match against the Jets. WR Kadarius Toney was a limited participant, and his absence will put additional pressure on the Mahomes-Kelce partnership.

Over at the Denver Broncos camp, the injury report has cast dark clouds on the team’s prospects of finally ending their losing streak. All three non-participants are from the defense roster. LB Frank Clark and Tackle Mike Purcell will see the Broncos’ defense considerably weakened. Further, FS Justin Simmon’s hip injury should not raise alarms as he was a limited participant and is likely to play Sunday’s match.

The Kansas City Chiefs have an uphill battle ahead with so many injuries, but the climb looks tougher for the Broncos. They have to deal with the extra pressure of not disappointing their fans further and securing their first win of the season. Are there any silver linings for the two teams?

Light at the end of the tunnel for the Broncos?

Russell Wilson, the Broncos’ $245 million QB, was blamed for the team’s losses against the Commanders and the Raiders. While it is true that after signing up with Denver, he has proven to be a shell of his former self, he is finding his ground again. In the bloodbath against the Miami Dolphins, Wilson set an NFL record by becoming the first person to record 5,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards. Head coach Sean Payton now needs to ensure how to leverage his QB best in sync with the other members of the team.

While the injuries on the defensive side are a concern, the Chiefs are at a much better place than the 1-2 Jets. After losing their talisman, Aaron Rodgers to an Achilles injury, the new QB, Zach Wilson is struggling to find his foothold. But 4x NFL MVP A-Rods trusts his successor and so should New York Jets fans. The Kansas City Chiefs would do well not to let their guard down against the Rodgers-less Jets.

Read more: Broncos Leader Russell Wilson Exchanges Three Ideas To Bounce Back After Dolphins Attack

The Broncos desperately need this win to even stand a chance at the playoffs. The Kansas City Chiefs, on the other hand, should not let their back-to-back wins lull them into complacency. Will the Broncos finally end their 3-game losing streak and will the Chiefs establish a 3-game winning streak?

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