The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson gives his scouting report for Thursday night’s game between the Broncos (12-3) and Chiefs (6-9) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

Offense

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is playing the best ball of his two-year NFL career. He threw for a career-high 352 yards in Sunday’s 34-20 loss to Jacksonville and has thrown for 1,482 in the past five games. The Broncos will look to establish the run after they had just 17 attempts (for 101 yards) against the Jaguars while Nix dropped back to pass 48 times. RJ Harvey does have 190 yards rushing the past three games. After Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew suffered knee injuries, the Chiefs are down to third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun, who threw the first passes of his four-year NFL career in Sunday’s 26-9 loss at Tennessee, completing 11 of 16 for 111 yards. Top receiver Rashee Rice is out after being put on injured reserve Wednesday. Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, who might retire after the season, could be playing the final home game of his illustrious career.

Advantage: Broncos

Defense

The Broncos have talked often about having the NFL’s top defense, but outside linebacker Nik Bonitto said after the loss to the Jaguars their play has been unacceptable since their bye week. In the past four games, Denver has allowed an average of 25.8 points. The Broncos do have three Pro Bowl selections on defense in Bonitto, cornerback Pat Surtain II and defensive tackle Zach Allen. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) is out but Justin Strnad returns after missing one game with an ankle injury. Despite having fallen out of the AFC playoff race, the Chiefs are still fourth in the NFL in points allowed. Defensive tackle Chris Jones was named to his seventh straight Pro Bowl. The Chiefs will be without both their starting cornerbacks, with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson being placed Wednesday on injured reserve.

Advantage: Broncos

Coaching

In his 13th season with the Chiefs, these are the worst of times for Andy Reid. An ongoing four-game losing streak has assured him of his first losing season with the Chiefs and their nine-year streak of winning the AFC West coming to an end. But Reid remains one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, having won three Super Bowls. He has been to six overall, five with the Chiefs and one with Philadelphia. Denver’s Sean Payton, who won it all with New Orleans in the 2009 season, is seeking to become the first head coach to win a Super Bowl with two teams. After the Broncos had their 11-game winning streak ended by Jacksonville, Payton immediately turned his attention to the Chiefs on a short week. After the Chiefs had won 15 straight games in the series prior to Payton’s 2023 Denver arrival, he is 3-2 against them.

Advantage: Chiefs

Intangibles

The Broncos are a 13.5-point favorite against depleted Kansas City, but Denver players have been stressing that the Chiefs still will have a number of top players available. The Broncos have lost nine straight games at Kansas City, last winning 31-24 on Sept. 17, 2015. Playing their final home game of the season, the Chiefs will want to put on a good show. The Broncos are determined to be focused, knowing the importance of the game. If they win and the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) lose Saturday at home to Houston, they would clinch their first AFC West title since 2015. A win over the Chiefs and in the regular-season finale against the Chargers at home would assure Denver the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff race.

Advantage: Broncos