Chiefs vs. Broncos: How to Watch, Rashee Rice's Return and What's at Stake in the AFC West

Note: This post was written while the game was still in progress, before the final result. It covers kickoff, how to watch, the key storylines and the early scoring as reported by live coverage. Check official NFL or team sources for the final score.

The Kansas City Chiefs visited the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon in their second AFC West meeting of the season. Kansas City won the first one 31-10 on “Monday Night Football,” helped by 173 rushing yards from Kenneth Walker III, according to Yahoo Sports.

What time do the Chiefs play today?

Kickoff at Empower Field at Mile High was 4:25 p.m. ET (2:25 p.m. MT, 3:25 p.m. CT) on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Chiefs vs. Broncos: where to watch

Per the Broncos’ official viewing guide:

• TV: CBS, with Jim Nantz on play-by-play, J.J. Watt as analyst and Tracy Wolfson on the sideline.
• Streaming (local markets): Paramount+, or NFL+ on phones and tablets.
• Out of market: NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube or YouTube TV.
• Outside the U.S.: NFL Game Pass International.
• Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM in Denver, SiriusXM channel 192, and ESPN Radio nationally (Steve Levy and Kelly Stouffer).

So the answer to “what channel is the Chiefs game on today” is CBS in most markets showing the game.

Rashee Rice returns

The biggest pregame news for Kansas City was receiver Rashee Rice. Yahoo Sports reported he was officially active after missing time with a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 4. Travis Kelce had been carrying the receiving load, leading the team with 323 yards and tied for the team lead with 24 catches heading into the game.

Rice made an impact quickly. On the Chiefs’ second drive, he caught an 11-yard touchdown from Patrick Mahomes.

Early scoring (as of late in the first half)

Based on Yahoo Sports’ live updates as of about 5:35 p.m. ET:

• Kansas City opened with a three-and-out that included a fumbled snap Mahomes recovered.
• Denver took a 3-0 lead on a field goal, then Rice’s touchdown put the Chiefs up 7-3.
• Wil Lutz made a 45-yard field goal for Denver to make it 7-6 early in the second quarter.
• After two straight Chiefs three-and-outs, Mahomes barely got a pass off under pressure to running back Emmett Johnson, who ran the rest of the way for a 73-yard touchdown. That gave Kansas City a 13-6 lead.

The result was not known when this was written. This post does not predict a final score.

AFC West stakes

Denver entered at 5-2 and in second place in the division. Kansas City came in at 5-1. According to the Broncos’ site, Denver was going for its fourth straight win after a 30-point game against Arizona in Week 7, when Bo Nix ran 62 yards for a touchdown and the team rushed for a season-high 159 yards.

Kansas City was trying to bounce back from a loss to Seattle in which the offense managed only three points. Yahoo Sports noted it was the Chiefs’ lowest total since Week 18 of the 2024 season, also against Denver, when Mahomes sat out to rest for the playoffs. Yahoo also pointed out that Denver beat Seattle in overtime in Week 6, the same team that handed Kansas City its first loss.

Injuries and inactives

Denver ruled out running back RJ Harvey and safety Talanoa Hufanga on Friday. Defensive lineman Zach Allen, tackle Garett Bolles, safety Brandon Jones and receiver Jaylen Waddle were listed as questionable, and cornerback Pat Surtain II carried no game status, per the Broncos.

Yahoo Sports listed the Chiefs’ inactives as CB Mansoor Delane, QB Garrett Nussmeier (emergency third quarterback), FB Ben VanSumeren, DE Jack Pyburn, DE Tyreke Smith and OT Diego Pounds. Denver’s inactives were QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency third quarterback), Hufanga, OL Gavin Ortega, OL Kage Casey, TE Dallen Bentley, DL Jordan Jackson and DT Tyler Onyedim.

What to watch the rest of the way

Walker came in leading the league at 116.8 rushing yards per game, according to the Broncos, and he was a major problem for Denver in the first meeting. Whether Denver’s defense, which had four red-zone stops against Arizona last week, can hold him down in the second half could decide the game. On the other side, Nix and receiver Courtland Sutton connected for a 23-yard gain on the Broncos’ field-goal drive, and Denver needs more of those to keep up.