Kansas City at Denver — The Game of the Century (Until We See it Again)

NFL scheduling is both a blessing and a curse. The good is that with all division teams playing each other twice, the better team almost always rises to the top. The bad is that epic showdowns like the one on Sunday don't seem as big when you know that the teams will turn around and play again, in this case just two weeks later.

Despite the scheduling, the Broncos-Chiefs game has an importance that is not lost on the casual football fan, even if it will be played again soon.  The Chiefs are the Auburn of the NFL, an awful team last year who has risen to championship contender in 2013.  Andy Reid is the runaway favorite for Coach of the Year, and Alex Smith has resurrected a career that was deemed over by the San Francisco 49ers.

With that being said, the Chiefs haven't exactly been through murderer's row.  That changes this week when the Broncos bring in the most prolific offense in the NFL.  Peyton Manning is on track to have best season ever for a quarterback.  The Chiefs have not allowed more than 17 points to an opponent all season, but it's safe to say that they have not faced an offense with the fire power of Denver.

Denver does come into this game with some concerns as well.  Protecting Manning has been an issue, and he appeared to be injured in last week's game against San Diego.  He'll play against KC, but how effective will he be?  Also, can his line, which is missing All-Pro tackle Ryan Clady, block against Tamba Hali and KC's dominant pass rush?  And furthermore, Denver's defense has been suspect throughout the season, giving up 48 points to Dallas and 39 points in their lone loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

This game will come down to who can dictate pace.  An uptempo, offensive shootout clearly favors Denver.  The Chiefs' best chance come with a defensive struggle.  Personally, I feel that something has to give one way or the other.  Denver will not run up 40 on the Chiefs' defense, while the Chiefs are also incapable of shutting out Denver's passing attack.  Look for Alex Smith to be the difference maker, as I see him making just enough plays for the Chiefs to win 24-21.

This game goes a long way towards deciding the AFC's top seed.  But again, this game could end up being a wash if the loser gets revenge two weeks from now.  Denver finishes with very winnable games, while the Chiefs still have a meeting with the dangerous Colts late in the season.  Don't you just love NFL scheduling?