The Game Haus releases its October 2026 NFL Power Rankings as the season reaches the halfway mark. The San Francisco 49ers (6‑1) top the list, overcoming WR injuries with a dominant O‑line and QB Brock Purdy, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs (6‑1) and the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings (6‑0). The Buffalo Bills (5‑1) sit fourth, boasting a potent offense but a league‑worst defense, while the Jacksonville Jaguars (4‑2) and Chicago Bears (5‑2) round out the top six, the latter buoyed by Caleb Williams' return. The rankings continue through 16 teams, noting injuries, offensive/defensive strengths, and recent performances that separate contenders from the pack.
Kansas City heads into Week 8 against Denver with tight‑end Travis Kelke’s ankle seemingly under control. After limited practice Thursday, Kelke participated fully on Wednesday and Friday and carries no injury designation for the game. He logged 44 receiving yards against Seattle last week, matching his season average, and posted 71 yards in the season‑opening win over the Broncos. The Chiefs also probe wide‑receiver options for Patrick Mahomes, according to insider James Palmer. Kelke’s status appears fine, but the offense may get a boost before the deadline.
The Chiefs must exploit Denver's weaknesses to bounce back and complete a season sweep of the Broncos in Week 8.
Kansas City Chiefs kicker gave a commencement speech that was misogynistic and homophobic. He’s been a lousy kicker since.
Denver should have its top target in the lineup for a crucial AFC West showdown with the Chiefs.
The Denver Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, a pivotal AFC West showdown with both teams sitting at 5‑5. A win puts the victor atop the division, and a second Chiefs win would give them a head‑to‑head tiebreaker after sweeping Denver in Week 1. Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle, sidelined by a chest injury, is listed as questionable but “trending in the right direction” according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. With RB RJ Harvey out and safety Talanoa Hufanga sidelined, Waddle could be crucial for Bo Nix against Patrick Mahomes.
The Kansas City Chiefs got off to a high-flying start this season, sitting at 5-0 after their first five games. While, on paper, things could have been better, the record showed that the Chiefs were back to their old tricks.
The Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) host the Denver Broncos (5-2) Sunday, Nov. 1, at 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead Time on CBS (locally KCTV‑5). The game returns to Mile High's natural grass after a 31‑10 Chiefs win in Week 1, though Denver has won the last two meetings and swept the Chiefs last season. Key details include Chiefs –1.5 odds from FanDuel, referee Clete Blakeman, and streams on NFL+. Radio options feature Mitch Holthus on KFNZ (English) and Oscar Monterroso on Audacy (Spanish), while Broncos coverage airs on KOA 850 AM. The matchup impacts the AFC West race.
After a 17‑13 defeat to the winless Miami Dolphins in Week 7, the New York Jets slip to 2‑5 and fan confidence plunges to just 33 percent, according to SB Nation’s weekly poll. The loss follows an ugly road defeat to the Patriots and sets up a critical clash with the Raiders that could drop the record to 2‑6. With upcoming games against the Chiefs and Bills, the Jets’ competitive window looks to be closing, and poll numbers may near zero unless they reverse the negative momentum.
The New York Giants and Denver Broncos see their hopes of acquiring star running back Saquon Barkley dashed as sources confirm the Eagles will not trade him before the Nov. 10 deadline. Both teams, sitting 4-2-1 in the NFC East and just a half‑game behind Kansas City in the AFC West, were eyeing Barkley to bolster playoff pushes. Philadelphia, despite a 2-5 record, plans to keep the three‑time Pro Bowler for future draft leverage. The trade rumor dies, leaving the Giants and Broncos to seek other upgrades ahead of Week 8.
The Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos at 3:25 p.m. on Nov. 1 in a pivotal Week 8 AFC West clash. Both teams sit near the top—Chiefs 5‑1, Broncos 5‑2—so a Chiefs win would extend their division lead to three games thanks to a head‑to‑head sweep, while a Broncos victory would tie the standings and give Denver a tiebreak edge due to a tougher remaining schedule. Denver’s defense, now the NFL’s No. 3 scoring unit and league‑leading with 21 sacks, faces a Chiefs offense that relied on Kenneth Walker’s 173 rushing yards in the season‑opening win. Experts project a close game, with a 20‑16 Kansas City advantage.
It's unlikely the Patriots will make a major deal, and I don't think they need to in order to compete for a Super Bowl title. While the Patriots' current injury situation is not ideal — and 180 degrees different than last season (that was predictable) — they are going to get a lot of players back with a lot of ballgame left, including some very challenging games (Bills, Vikings, at Chiefs, vs. Broncos) to prep/make their postseason push.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has everything he needs to shut Bo Nix down.
The Jets confirm they will not trade star wide receiver Garrett Wilson before the NFL deadline, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. With a crucial matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders looming and upcoming games versus the Chiefs and Bills, New York needs a win to avoid slipping to 2-8. The article also notes TE Kenyon Sadiq's recent touchdown, T’Vondre Sweat’s IR placement, and several trade rumors swirling around other players.
Not everyone is convinced K.C. will roll over Denver again, but the majority rules in the Chiefs' favor.
The Denver Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs in a crucial Week 8 AFC West clash at Empower Field. Denver leans on a top‑10 defense that allows only 20.1 points and ranks fourth in sacks (3.0 per game), but its offense sits 30th in the league, averaging just 20.6 points. Meanwhile, the Chiefs sport a balanced attack that ranks fifth in total yards (380.5) and a stingy defense that yields 17.2 points, though they struggle on third down and in the red zone. Key factors include Broncos pass‑rushers Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto pressuring Patrick Mahomes, and the availability of Denver’s WR Jaylen Waddle and Chiefs’ RB Kenneth Walker III. Injuries loom for both sides, with 10 Broncos and 11 Chiefs on the report.
The Seattle Seahawks beat the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs 20-3 on Oct. 25, but edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu draws a $17,911 fine for a horse‑collar tackle on Patrick Mahomes— the league’s first penalty of the night. The infraction, defined in the 2026 NFL Rulebook, cost the Chiefs a 15‑yard penalty but they still managed a field goal. Nwosu, a Super Bowl champion and team captain, also faces an ankle injury that could sideline him for the upcoming game against Chicago, leaving Seattle’s pass rush in doubt.
Two‑time Super Bowl winner Kadarius Toney publicly condemns the NCAA after he and his 1‑year‑old son were ejected from a game for lacking a sideline pass. In an Instagram story, the former Chiefs wide receiver called the rules "korny" and pointed out that NCAA and SEC regulations require non‑working personnel in the bench area to be at least 10 years old, with sideline access barred for anyone under 16. Toney, a 2021 first‑round pick who earned a Super Bowl LVII touchdown, has been out of the NFL since the Browns released him in December 2024. His latest headline centers on the toddler‑pass controversy, echoing a similar 2017 incident involving former Chargers linebacker Chris McCain.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton praises the growing confidence and pass‑rush production of OLB Que Robinson, noting his increased snap counts. In Kansas City, a rumored clash between Chiefs coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and offensive tackle Josh Simmons is downplayed by Mahomes, who says the team is having “hard conversations” but staying focused and moving in the right direction. Meanwhile, Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins admits the pressure of a rookie first‑overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, and highlights tight‑end Tre Tucker’s expanding role. Running back Ashton Jeanty calls for better communication with the offensive line to improve the ground game.
Jonah Coleman is beginning to carve out a larger role in Denver's backfield just as the Chiefs are trying to recover from an ugly defensive performance against Seattle.
The Denver Broncos place rookie RB RJ Harvey on short‑term IR ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Kansas City Chiefs. Harvey, sidelined by a knee injury in practice, will miss four games and can return as early as Dec. 6 against the Dolphins. The move hurts Denver’s rushing attack; JK Dobbins, Jonah Coleman and Cody Schrader may see more snaps. Harvey has logged 87 yards on 24 carries, 217 receiving yards on 25 catches and two touchdowns this season. The Chiefs sit atop the AFC West at 5‑1, while the Broncos sit at 5‑2.
Former Chiefs All‑Pro running back Larry Johnson, 46, admits he can barely recall large portions of his NFL career, recalling only moments from 2006‑2007 onward. The 2003 first‑round pick, who rushed for 1,750 yards with 20 TDs in 2005 and a league‑record 416 carries in 2006, now battles serious memory loss, confusion, and word‑finding issues—symptoms he links to repeated head trauma but has not been diagnosed with CTE. Johnson’s daughter now drives him, and he urges retired players to discuss mental‑health challenges openly, even considering an app for peer support.
The Seattle Seahawks beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-3 Sunday, but edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu draws a $17,911 fine for a horse‑collar tackle on Patrick Mahomes. The penalty forced a replayed down, and Mahomes later recovered a strip‑sack by Derick Hall to preserve a Chiefs field goal. It’s the only fine issued in the game, and a repeat horse‑collar offense will trigger a one‑game suspension. Nwosu is listed as doubtful for Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears, raising questions about his availability.
The Denver Broncos announced several roster moves ahead of their Week 8 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs. Running back RJ Harvey, the No. 60 overall pick in the 2025 draft, is placed on injured reserve after appearing in six games this season with 87 rushing yards, 217 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The team also promotes RB Cody Schrader and lineman Gavin Ortega to the active roster and signs safety Taylor Rapp. Harvey is in the second year of a four-year, $7.35 million contract.
The Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) head into their AFC West showdown with the Denver Broncos (5-2) on Sunday missing two key cornerbacks. Rookie Mansoor Delane is sidelined by a shoulder injury, and veteran L’Jarius Sneed lands on injured reserve with a lingering knee issue, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Despite Denver’s struggling offense—just 270 yards per game—quarterback Bo Nix could find opportunities against a shorthanded Chiefs secondary. Coach Steve Spagnuolo faces a test, likely rotating new concepts to cover the gaps while the Chiefs aim to protect their first‑place grip on the West.