* The skinny: The Chiefs have been battered on defense, especially at linebacker. Middle linebacker Pat Thomas, who was a game-day inactive Sunday against Oakland because of a hamstring injury, has a chance to play this week. No matter who's at the position, though, offenses have been content to pound away at the Chiefs defense this season, with five teams having had at least 35 carries against Kansas City, while three teams have had at least 40 carries.

* It's a fact: Nine teams have had at least 100 rushing yards against the Chiefs this season, three have topped 200 yards and two have had at least 300 yards.

Advantage: Broncos

WHEN THE Broncos PASS THE BALL

* The skinny: With Patrick Surtain's injury, the Chiefs have been starting two rookies, Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr, at cornerback. The first time the teams met, though, the two were up to the challenge as Carr had an interception and Flowers returned a fumble 37 yards. Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham will try to mix and match against Jay Cutler, blitzing at times, dropping the linebackers into coverage on others. Cunningham likes his speed at linebacker, so when he does attack, it's often with those players.

* It's a fact: Last December, Cutler had four touchdown passes against the Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Advantage: Broncos

WHEN THE Chiefs RUN THE BALL

* The skinny: Two words for the Broncos: Larry Johnson. Johnson went for 65 yards on the second play from scrimmage the last time these teams played in September on his way to 198 rushing yards. Seven of Johnson's runs in that game went for first downs or touchdowns. The Broncos did play plenty of three-man fronts with little success in that game and haven't shown it much on run downs the past month. The Broncos have been more solid of late against the run, in large part because they have played more physically up front. But the Jets' Thomas Jones had touchdown runs of 59 and 29 yards Sunday when the Broncos missed their gaps.

* It's a fact: Since that 198-yard effort against the Broncos, Johnson has missed four games - one was by suspension - and hasn't rushed for more than 92 yards in any of the other three games.

Advantage: Chiefs

WHEN THE Chiefs PASS THE BALL

* The skinny: The Chiefs have started three quarterbacks this season - Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard and Tyler Thigpen - with Thigpen having made the past six starts. He has some mobility - he has rushed for at least 20 yards seven times this year and more than 40 yards two times - and the Broncos will have to keep him hemmed in, especially because he also has settled in to the passing portion of the job some. His passer rating is 92.0 the past six games and he has 11 touchdown passes during that span. After playing it safe early on, Thigpen has pushed the ball down the field more, and his 11 pass plays of at least 25 yards is fourth best in the league during the past six weeks.

* It's a fact: Only one quarterback the Broncos have faced this season has rushed for more than 7 yards. Falcons rookie Matt Ryan had 18 rushing yards on five carries.

Advantage: Broncos

SPECIAL TEAMS

* The skinny: The Broncos should have the edge here and they kept the Jets' Leon Washington closed in nicely Sunday. The Chiefs now have rookie receiver Kevin Robinson - he had four returns for touchdowns in his senior season at Utah State in 2007, eight in his college career - returning punts and kickoffs. They also have rookie Connor Barth handling their placekicking duties. Barth, who had been in training camp with the Chiefs before being released, is 8-for-8 in field-goal attempts in his return, including two Sunday.

* It's a fact: With his 95-yarder against Miami, Broncos receiver Eddie Royal has the longest kickoff return in the league this season that didn't go for a touchdown.

Advantage: Broncos

INTANGIBLES

* The skinny: On paper, the Broncos still are the better team in this one despite all their injuries. But the Broncos are at home, coming off a big win, a combination that usually has equaled an ugly stumble this season. The Chiefs have no pressure and can play that way. Still, if the Broncos lose, they'll have no one else to blame but themselves and they'll also have their second four-loss season at home in the past three years.

Advantage: Chiefs

JEFF LEGWOLD'S PREDICTION: Broncos 31-16