The Broncos watched the game tape of the Kansas City Chiefs this week and noticed eerie similarities. Both teams are 7-3 and mirror each other on the field with their style of play, too.

Broncos defensive players are expecting a defensive struggle, the type of game where the combined number of punts and three-and-outs could equal the number of points.

“If you win 18 out of your last 22 games then you’re good, period, no matter what the fantasy world says,” cornerback Aqib Talib said of the Chiefs. “They play defense and run the ball with short passes so they’re kind of in a similar boat as us. We play against this offense a lot and we go against them a lot.”

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Kansas City’s hallmark under coach Andy Reid has been owning the turnover differential. They’re tied for first in the NFL this season with a +13 margin thanks to a league-best 23 takeaways.

The defenses have enormous respect for one another. Kansas City has watched Denver’s defense ascend to an elite status by winning a Super Bowl. Now, they aspire to duplicate that. The biggest difference between the two units may be that the Broncos have outside linebacker Von Miller, who has the ability to single-handedly take over games. He reminds Johnson of another former Chiefs great.

“Probably Derrick Thomas, that’s a name that I don’t throw out there much,” said Johnson, when asked for a comparison. “Somebody that’s quick off the ball, not very big, but athletic enough and strong enough to get around the corner… He poses problems for all offenses and he’s going to pose a problem for us.”

Miller has 8.5 sacks in 10 games against the Chiefs.

The Chiefs have their own elite pass rusher in Justin Houston, who will be playing in his second game since undergoing offseason surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament in February. Houston wasn’t on a play limit last Sunday, but Johnson said he’s still working toward getting back to 100 percent.

Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian will have to contend with Houston, along with outside linebacker Dee Ford, who is tied for the NFL lead with 10 sacks.

This week, safe offense might be the smart play.

“What we’re going to have to do is play better than their defense, period,” Johnson said.

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris echoed the same sentiment: “The defense that plays the best will win.”