Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver (grass, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST (CBS).
Spread: Broncos by 16
Forecast: Partly cloudy, temperatures in the mid 30s.
2012 records: Broncos (12-3; AFC West 5-0); Chiefs (2-13; AFC West 0-5)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 25, 2012: Broncos 17, Chiefs 9; Jan. 1, 2012: Chiefs 7, Broncos 3. Series record: Broncos hold a 56-48 edge (Broncos lead 1-0 in postseason).
What matters: There isn't a matchup of two more disparate teams in Week 17 than this one. Both went in opposite directions from the mediocrity they wallowed in when they collided in Denver to finish last year's regular season. The Broncos backed into the playoffs after losing that day 7-3, but they are going in strong this year.
The Chiefs were one of the peskiest opponents the Broncos faced during their 10-game winning streak, controlling the pace on the ground on offense while generating enough edge pressure to force QB Peyton Manning into hurried throws. At one point in the fourth quarter, Manning threw seven consecutive incompletions; however, he followed that with a pair of passes to WR Demaryius Thomas -- including a 27-yarder on third-and-7 -- that allowed the Broncos to salt away the game with a drive that ate more than six minutes off the game clock.
Who matters: Manning still managed to complete 22 of 37 passes against Kansas City on Nov. 25 despite the spate of fourth-quarter incompletions; as usual, the Broncos' offense will flow through him. LB Wesley Woodyard led the Broncos with nine tackles -- including two for losses -- in Kansas City and will be key in containing Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles, who gained 226 yards on 22 carries last week.
Key matchup: The Broncos' front seven vs. Charles. Kansas City ran on the Broncos as no one else has during their 10-game winning streak, and even though the Broncos have boasted the league's stingiest run defense in that span, they've proven vulnerable at times recently -- particularly last week, when Cleveland RB Trent Richardson averaged 5.9 yards on nine carries in the first 33 minutes, then was curiously abandoned and didn't have a carry thereafter.
Last week, the Chiefs ran for 352 yards against the Colts.
"They've run it on everybody," Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said. "They ran like crazy last week and they ran pretty good against us. We've just gotta man up, get off blocks and tackle and get 'em off the field, but they're pretty good at what they do."
While Kansas City's offensive line did well in getting out in front and creating space for Charles, Peyton Hillis and Dexter McCluster against the Broncos, it's Charles who makes them go.
"Probably 75 percent of it is just Jamaal Charles," Broncos LB Von Miller said. "He's just that good. He got my first-team Pro Bowl vote. He can make things happen for himself without the help of a lot of guys on this team."
Charles is the only runner to gain more than 100 yards against the Broncos during their 10-game winning streak, and his 107 yards that day are more than any entire team has gained on the ground against Denver since Oct. 7.
Injuries of note: RG Chris Kuper is questionable after missing Wednesday's practice and being limited Thursday and Friday. He has struggled with a left ankle injury and migraines recently and hasn't played since Dec. 2 against Tampa Bay … PR/KR Trindon Holliday didn't practice all week because of a sprained ankle and is listed as doubtful … CB Tracy Porter is out because of a concussion he suffered on the first defensive series last Sunday.
Inside stuff: The Broncos lead the league in sacks with 48, led by LB Von Miller's 17.5 and DE Elvis Dumervil's 11. Those two players are the first in Broncos history to become a single-season duo with at least 11 sacks apiece. The club's all-time single-season sack record of 57, set in 1984, is likely out of reach, but four sacks would allow them to match the 1991 tally of 52 for second-best in club annals.
Connections: The Colquitt brothers (Kansas City's Dustin and Denver's Britton) face off once again; Dustin was selected to the Pro Bowl and has a higher gross punting average (46.9 yards to 46.3). Britton has a higher net average (42.2 yards to 40.3) … Chiefs QB Brady Quinn was a backup in Denver from 2010-11 … Chiefs OL Russ Hochstein played with the Broncos from 2009-11 and started at RG in last year's playoffs … Chiefs RB Peyton Hillis began his career with Denver in 2008-09.
Stat you should know: Broncos coach John Fox goes for his 100th NFL win Sunday (counting both regular-season and playoff games). He is the first Broncos coach since Red Miller (1977-80) to make the playoffs in each of his first two seasons on the job. In the playoffs, Fox hopes to become the sixth coach to take two different franchises to the Super Bowl: Don Shula, Bill Parcells, Dan Reeves, Dick Vermeil and Mike Holmgren are the others.
Record watch: If the Broncos score at least 30 points, they will break the club record for most 30-point games in a season; this year's team is currently tied with the 1998 and 2000 Broncos with 10 30-point games, the 10th-most in NFL history … Miller needs one forced fumble to break Dennis Smith's franchise record for forced fumbles in a season (six, 1989) … WR Eric Decker is 12 yards away from the first 1,000-yard season of his career … With a win, the Broncos will extend their winning streak to 11 games, the second-longest in team history.
Looking ahead: With a win or tie, the Broncos get a first-round bye. With a win or tie and a Texans loss, the Broncos get home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs. The Broncos will play next weekend only if they lose or tie with the Chiefs and the Patriots beat the Dolphins. All Kansas City can do is avoid having the league's worst record; with a defeat, the Chiefs will secure the No. 1 overall pick, their second 2-14 season in five years and fourth season of 4-12 or worse in six years.
Prediction: Broncos 31, Chiefs 10.
For up-to-the-minute Broncos updates, follow Andrew Mason on Twitter at @CBSBroncos.
