Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton downplays the “must‑win” hype ahead of the Week 8 showdown with the 5‑1 Kansas City Chiefs, noting the season is long but a win would ease the AFC West race. The Broncos (5‑2) trail the Chiefs by one game, and a second victory would give Kansas City a sweep and a crucial tiebreaker. Injuries loom, with star receiver Jaylen Waddle and defender Zach Allen listed. The contest kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Nov. 1 at Mile High.
It may only be week 8, but the Kansas City Chiefs can put a stranglehold on the AFC West if they can beat the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler ranks Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. as the league’s No. 2 trade candidate, giving him a 45% chance of moving before the Nov. 10 deadline. After a 1,200‑yard rookie season in 2024, his production dropped to 707 yards in 2025 and just 105 yards with one TD through six games this year. At 24, Thomas is in the third year of a four‑year, $14.38 M contract, and the Chiefs, Steelers and 49ers are listed as likely destinations. Kansas City needs receiver depth after injuries, Pittsburgh eyes him as a fit, and San Francisco could use a replacement for the injured Mike Evans.
After a 20‑3 loss to Seattle, the Chiefs face mounting scrutiny on their defense, centered on DT Chris Jones. Through six games, Jones has recorded just half a sack, three quarterback hits and a single tackle for loss, raising doubts about his impact as the league’s highest‑paid interior lineman. While Jones insists he’s improving, the team has no backup plan and must rely on him to rediscover his former form. The article also touches on Mahomes’ comments on off‑field issues and upcoming matchups, but the key story remains Jones’ underperformance and its implications for Kansas City’s playoff push.
The Chiefs take some early risks in their most recent mock draft, looking to get Mahomes some help
Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs' passing game will get a major lift when Rashee Rice returns from a hamstring injury. Rice, who logged 13 catches for 190 yards and a TD in the first four games, resumed limited practice Wednesday, but his status remains questionable for Sunday’s showdown with the Denver Broncos at Empower Field. Mahomes praised Rice’s physicality in both zone and man concepts, noting his return will ease pressure on other receivers. Kansas City looks to rebound after a 20-3 loss to Seattle, while fellow starters Jaylon Moore and L'Jarius Sneed also sit out with injuries.
Former Chiefs quarterback trainer Jeff Christensen reveals that Patrick Mahomes has been eyeing a 10‑Super Bowl retirement goal since his rookie season. The Kansas City star, who signed a 10‑year, $450 million deal in 2020 and has restructured his contract annually, says legacy and rings matter more than money. Mahomes, now in his 10th season, boasts 276 TDs, 37,413 passing yards and three Lombardi trophies from five Super Bowl appearances. Recent cap‑space moves ahead of the 2026 season underscore his team‑first mindset. As he chases a record‑breaking ten rings, the article explores his historic achievements and the odds of reaching that milestone.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid fields intense media scrutiny after Kansas City adds veteran kicker Justin Tucker to its practice squad. Tucker, who served a 10‑game suspension in 2025 following sexual misconduct allegations he denies, sparked criticism from local reporters. Reid’s brief remarks—"He’s done his suspension… I’ll leave it at that"—did little to quell the debate over the NFL’s consistency in handling players with legal issues. While the move addresses the Chiefs’ kicking woes, it fuels a broader conversation about transparency and player accountability in the league.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid fields intense media scrutiny after the team adds veteran kicker Justin Tucker to its practice squad. Tucker, who served a 10‑game suspension in 2025 over sexual misconduct allegations he denies, sparked criticism from Kansas City reporters. Reid deflected, saying Tucker “took care of his business” and offered no further comment. The signing, intended to bolster the Chiefs’ kicking woes, also reignites debate over NFL consistency in handling players with past suspensions. As Tucker joins the squad, the controversy is far from resolved.
Seven weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams remain an enigma. After a surprising loss to the 49ers on an international road trip, they fell to playoff‑bound foes Denver, Buffalo and Arizona, while their only wins came against a battered Giants, an injury‑hit Eagles squad and a struggling Raiders team. Injuries have shuffled the quarterback room from Jaxson Dart to Jameis Winston to JJ McCarthy, and key playmakers have missed time. With a daunting stretch looming – Green Bay before Thanksgiving, then the Chiefs, 49ers, Cowboys and Seahawks – the Rams' true identity won’t emerge until the season’s final stretch, possibly after the bye week brings back players like Myles Garrett and Davante Adams.
An insane mock trade involving a Cowboys star has gone viral.
The Kansas City Chiefs bolster their kicking room by signing seven‑time Pro Bowler Justin Tucker to the practice squad, creating insurance for struggling starter Harrison Butker. Butker has missed 15 kicks this season, hitting just 11 of 16 (68.8%) and flubbing two attempts in a 20‑3 loss to Seattle. Tucker, the NFL’s all‑time longest‑field‑goal kicker (66 yards), returns after a 10‑game suspension stemming from personal‑conduct allegations and a dip to a 73.3% rate in 2024. The move gives Kansas City a veteran option while keeping Butker on the active roster.
After a 0-6 start and the league's lowest scoring average (15.0 PPG), Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh confirms offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will stay as play‑caller post‑bye week. Harbaugh says the team used the break to evaluate all areas and trusts McDaniel's work ethic, despite prior criticism following a 22‑6 loss to Kansas City that left the offense with just 259 yards. McDaniel, hired from the Dolphins after a 35‑33 record, remains in place as the Chargers aim for their first win against the 3‑4 Rams in Week 8 at SoFi Stadium.
The Denver Broncos took the AFC West from the Kansas City Chiefs last season and Courtland Sutton says people still don't believe in them
The Denver Broncos face a crucial AFC West showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, but key players missed Wednesday's practice. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (chest), defensive lineman Zach Allen (hamstring) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle) were listed as DNP, while left tackle Garett Bolles and WR Marvin Mims are limited. Waddle, the team's high‑profile offseason acquisition, has only 26 catches for 276 yards and one TD in seven games. Allen and Hufanga anchor a top‑ranked defense, and their potential absence could shy the Broncos from toppling the Mahomes‑led Chiefs and regaining the division lead.
The Kansas City Chiefs are being urged to trade for New York Jets wideout Ad na I Mitchell before the NFL deadline to fix a downfield passing slump exposed in their 3‑point loss to Seattle. With Tyquan Thornton injured and Mahomes lacking any 20‑plus‑yard throws last week, analysts cite Mitchell’s deep‑route ability as a potential solution. The trade hinges on the Jets' willingness to move him and the price Kansas City can match, but adding Mitchell could give Mahomes a true vertical threat and boost the Chiefs' postseason push.
After retiring with a Super Bowl win, former Eagles center Jason Kelby reflects on his career’s only two unanswered matchups—never beating the Seattle Seahawks or the Cincinnati Bengals. He pinpoints a false‑start on a December 18, 2023, goal‑line drive that helped Seattle win 20‑17, and recalls a 23‑23 tie with Cincinnati in 2020 as his best result. Younger brother, Chiefs star Travis Kelce, consoles him with a simple “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” sparking a light‑hearted moment. The piece also notes Travis’s 2026 season stats—24 catches, 343 yards, two TDs—while the brothers discuss the lingering regret.
Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons, the No. 32 overall pick in the 2025 draft, faces an uncertain future after a heated team meeting with head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. While rehabbing a bulging disc, Simmons was asked to leave the meeting for putting his feet on the desk, apologized, and was placed on injured reserve. With the Chiefs prioritizing Mahomes' protection, the franchise must decide if Simmons' elite upside outweighs locker‑room concerns and his injury recovery, sparking talk of a possible release.
After a 3‑0 start, the Las Vegas Raiders have slipped to 3‑4, sitting behind the Chiefs (5‑1) and Broncos (5‑2) in the AFC West. Coach Klint Kubiak confirms rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza— the 2026 top draft pick—will not start in Week 8 against the New York Jets. Kubiak says Mendoza will see action later in the season, keeping veteran Kirk Cousins under center for now. Mendoza’s only previous appearance was a brief stint in a Week 5 loss to the Patriots.
Sean Payton doesn't think Sunday's game against Kansas City will decide the AFC West, but he does know how much easier a win would make things
Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith‑Njigba earns his second FedEx Ground & Air Player of the Week honor after a monster Week 7 performance against the Kansas City Chiefs. He logged nine catches for 150 yards and a 28‑yard touchdown in Seattle’s 20‑3 upset, helping him lead the league with 867 receiving yards, 8 TDs and a 123.9 yards‑per‑game average through seven games. The fan‑voted award follows his Week 2 showing versus Arizona (nine catches, 155 yards, three TDs). Smith‑Njigba now joins an elite group of receivers with 100+ yards in six of their first seven games as Seattle prepares to host the Chicago Bears.
The Kansas City Chiefs suffered their first loss of the 2026 season. In the meantime, other former members of the Chiefs organization suited up and played for their current teams.
The Kansas City Chiefs add veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad as Harrison Butker flounders, having made only 11 of 16 field‑goal attempts and missing a 58‑yard try in a 20‑3 loss to Seattle. Tucker, who served a 10‑game NFL suspension in 2025 after multiple massage‑therapist allegations—though he denied wrongdoing and faced no charges—was signed despite his controversial past. Head coach Andy Reid deflects further questioning, citing thorough vetting and recent workout success (30 of 30 kicks). Tucker’s role is a backup while Butker tries to regain form.
The Los Angeles Chargers have confirmed that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will retain play‑calling duties despite the unit ranking last in the NFL with a 15.0 points‑per‑game average and the team’s 0‑6 start. Head coach Jim Harbaugh announced the decision during the bye week, despite criticism targeting McDaniel for the Chargers' offensive woes, injuries, and quarterback struggles. The move follows a six‑point outing against the Chiefs that left the Chargers at the bottom of the league. McDaniel, previously praised for his work with the Dolphins, now faces mounting pressure as the season stalls.
The Kansas City Chiefs evaluated three kickers before adding veteran Justin Tucker to their practice squad, according to NFL Trade Rumors. Alongside former Rams starter Harrison Mevis and ex‑Giants K Ben Sauls, the 36‑year‑old Tucker—who spent a decade with Baltimore, earning multiple extensions and a franchise tag—was released in 2025 after 16 women accused him of sexual misconduct. In 2024 he appeared in all 17 games, converting 22 of 30 field goals (73.3%) and 60 of 62 PATs (96.8%).