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Mike McGlinchey Says the Broncos Owe the Chiefs One After a 31-10 Embarrassment in the Opener
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- Mike McGlinchey Says the Broncos Owe the Chiefs One After a 31-10 Embarrassment in the Opener
Mike McGlinchey has had more than six weeks to think about that night at Arrowhead Stadium. The Denver Broncos right tackle didn't pretend otherwise after Sunday's 30-16 win over the Cardinals , with Kansas City now headed to Empower Field at Mile High.
"We owe them one," McGlinchey said, per The Associated Press . "They kind of embarrassed us last time we stepped on the field with them and we're looking forward to that challenge."
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What went wrong in Kansas City
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) escapes from the pocket as Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) dives after him at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Oct. 25, 2026.
The opener on Sept. 14 was a 31-10 loss, and it was every bit as lopsided as the score. Denver allowed 392 yards, Kenneth Walker III ran for 173 of them, and Sean Payton called the night a "slap in the face," according to the Denver Gazette . Outside linebacker Quandarrius Robinson was even more direct about what this week means. "I hate to say this, but it's almost like a redemption game," Robinson told the Gazette. "We didn't play the best when we first played them, and we feel like we got to take that extra step to make (Sunday's) game a lot closer than it was."
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The defense that got pushed around in September looks different now. Denver has allowed 15.8 points per game during its three-game winning streak. Alex Singleton made 19 tackles in Glendale and leads the NFL with 87. Nik Bonitto carries an 86.3 overall grade and an 89.2 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus , with 20 pressures. PFF credits him with four sacks; Pro Football Reference has 3.5. Zach Allen leads the team with 4.5 sacks and said he was fine after tweaking his hamstring against Arizona, and Robinson has two sacks of his own.
Kansas City arrives off its first loss
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball under pressure from Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) and linebacker Derick Hall (58) during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field on Oct. 25, 2026.Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
The Chiefs come to Denver at 5-1 after a 20-3 loss in Seattle. Patrick Mahomes went 19 of 33 for 165 yards and an interception, and Kansas City never reached the red zone. We wrote that Andy Reid abandoned the run game in that one, which is worth watching against a Denver front that has tightened up since Walker gashed it.
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Kansas City's defense kept that game from getting out of hand. Khyiris Tonga posted an 83.8 PFF grade in Seattle , and cornerback Nohl Williams returned an end-zone interception 65 yards. McGlinchey's problem is up front. George Karlaftis has 27 pressures, 10th among edge defenders , and Chris Jones has 15 pressures and one sack. McGlinchey has a 71.6 pass-blocking grade with 17 pressures allowed, but his 47.7 run-blocking grade ranks 66th of 71 tackles, and he graded at 35.6 as a run blocker in Arizona.
First place in the AFC West goes to the winner. Pat Surtain II is expected back, which reshapes a secondary where Kris Abrams-Draine has earned a role . McGlinchey sounded like a player who has had this one circled since Sept. 14. "It's going to be a great challenge, and I'm super excited for it," he said.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
