The last time the Chiefs played the Broncos, Tim Tebow threw his best pass of the season — a 56-yard touchdown strike to Eric Decker. That helped the Broncos escape Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium with a 17-10 victory last month.
The Chiefs won’t be going to the playoffs, but they’re not a team playing out the string. The Broncos can count on the Chiefs being fully inspired Sunday in the teams’ regular-season finale in Denver.
Kansas City’s players want Romeo Crennel to be their head coach next year and beyond. For now, he’s their interim coach, having replaced the fired Todd Haley.
The Chiefs beat Green Bay with Crennel in charge, and they lost in overtime to the Raiders. Crennel has the Chiefs playing hard and with pride.
Crennel uses a 3-4 defense, which has given Tebow some trouble. The Patriots and Bills use a 3-4 defense too, and the Denver offense committed six turnovers against them the last two games. Tebow was responsible for five turnovers.
Tebow completed only 2-of-8 passes in Denver’s Nov. 13 game at Kansas City. The Broncos rushed for 244 yards that day. Their defense had four sacks and held the Chiefs to 140 yards passing.
Kyle Orton — remember him? — is Kansas City’s starting quarterback now. He knows the Broncos’ personnel and their audibles. He knows what their players do and don’t like in game plans.
Orton won’t be the first QB in league history to play against his former team, but he will be playing against a Denver team that has become one-dimensional on offense and has a secondary that’s been hit hard by injuries.
It would be a big mistake if the Broncos think Kansas City isn’t capable of keeping them out of the playoffs.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
