Sunday night is shaping up to be one of the most important games of the season. Along with the added incentive of facing a division foe, Sunday will have immense implications for the AFC West and with only six games remaining, Denver cannot afford a division loss at home.

“It’s always a big test,” Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett said earlier this week, according to a quote sheet released by the team. “Especially in the last few games trying to make a playoff push and finish out the regular season. Every game is going to be big for us coming up. We’re going to take it one game at a time and try to finish.”

Looking at the matchup with Kansas City, everything comes down to slowing down the rushing attack and forcing QB Alex Smith to beat you through the air. Smith is the definition of a game manager, throwing the ball down field only when he has to and taking what little chunks of yardage the defense gives them.

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“They have good running backs and a good passing game to the tight ends and running backs,” Barrett said. “ It’s going to test the outside linebackers and inside linebackers to cover those guys. In the run game, we’ve had trouble with that so far this year. We got better against it two weeks ago, so we’re going to try to build on that and keep it going.”

It is no secret that Broncos linebackers have struggled mightily in pass coverage, so Sunday night is going to be a huge test for Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis in particular. Travis Kelce is a matchup nightmare across the middle and the Chiefs’ leading receiver, but if the Broncos can slow down the 6-5 tight end, it really limits what Kansas City can do through the air.

Other than Kelce, the Chiefs options on the outside are limited. WR Tyreek Hill is the second leading receiver with 36 catches and Jeremy Maclin is the only legitimate deep threat on the team. If Denver can slow down the rushing attack and limit Kelce across the middle, then Wade Phillips will be able to set the pass-rushers loose.

“You just have to put them in a position that they’re not used to and try to make them play from behind so they pass a lot,” Barrett said. “We [can] get an opportunity to rush the passer and get some sacks and pressure. Rushing the passer leads to bad throws and getting picks.”

Ultimately this game features a pair of evenly matched teams, so whoever is able to control the tempo and keep their defense off the field will be in much better position to come away with the win.

Offensively, Denver will look to keep the ball in the hands of Trevor Siemian and rely on a heavy dose of Devontae Booker. The offensive line has been a struggle this year, but the Broncos will need to be able to put some points on the board and help out the defense.

On the other side of the ball, the Broncos will look to do what they do best, which is rush the passer and create turnovers.