As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for the 2025 NFL season, their path to a historic 10th consecutive AFC West title looks promising, thanks to a critical vulnerability in the Denver Broncos’ vaunted defense. While the Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers both punched their playoff tickets last season, neither advanced past the wild-card round. Yet, the hype surrounding Denver’s defense, which led the league with a staggering 63 sacks in 2024, has fans and analysts buzzing about their potential to challenge Kansas City’s divisional dominance. But a closer look reveals a glaring weakness that could hand the Chiefs an easy victory—or two—in their 2025 matchups.
The Broncos’ defense was a force to be reckoned with last season, outpacing the second-place Baltimore Ravens by nine sacks. Denver’s relentless pass rush made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks, and the team doubled down on its defensive identity this offseason with key acquisitions and scheme refinements. However, beneath the surface of this seemingly unstoppable unit lies a significant Achilles’ heel: the linebacker position.
Even before training camp kicked off, warning signs emerged at linebacker for Denver. The Broncos’ depth chart at this critical position is riddled with injury concerns, threatening to undermine their defensive prowess. If the Chiefs can exploit this weakness, their high-powered offense, led by Patrick Mahomes, could carve up Denver’s defense with ease.
The Broncos made a splash in free agency by signing Dre Greenlaw, a standout linebacker during his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers. However, Greenlaw’s 2024 season was derailed by injuries, limiting him to just two games. Unfortunately, his injury woes followed him to Denver, as he’s already dealing with setbacks this offseason. While Greenlaw’s talent is undeniable, his inability to stay healthy raises serious questions about his reliability.
The situation doesn’t improve with Denver’s other linebacker options. Alex Singleton, a fan favorite and key defensive contributor, suffered a torn ACL early in 2024. Though his return was highly anticipated, Singleton has already been banged up during training camp, casting doubt on his readiness for the regular season. To make matters worse, depth linebacker Drew Sanders suffered a concerning injury over the weekend, requiring a cart to leave the practice field. With their linebacker corps in such rough shape before the season even begins, the Broncos’ defense is far from the impenetrable fortress it appeared to be last year.
For Chiefs fans, this is music to the ears (though we never root for injuries). Kansas City’s offense thrives on exploiting defensive weaknesses, and a depleted linebacker unit could be the key to dismantling Denver’s sack-happy defense. Linebackers are crucial in defending against both the run and short-to-intermediate passing plays—areas where the Chiefs excel. Without reliable linebackers, Denver may struggle to contain Kansas City’s dynamic playmakers, leaving gaping holes for Mahomes to exploit.
The Chiefs face the Broncos twice in the regular season, with the possibility of a third matchup in the playoffs. If Denver’s linebacker issues persist, Kansas City could cruise to victory in these pivotal divisional games, solidifying their stranglehold on the AFC West. A weakened linebacker corps means less pressure on the Chiefs’ offensive line, giving Mahomes ample time to pick apart Denver’s secondary or hand off to a resurgent running game.
While the Broncos’ defense will likely remain formidable in 2025, their linebacker woes could prove to be their undoing against a team as talented as the Chiefs. Denver’s ability to generate sacks may keep them competitive in other games, but against Kansas City’s surgical offense, a single weak link could spell disaster. The Chargers, too, loom as a potential threat in the division, but their lack of playoff success last season suggests they’re not yet on the Chiefs’ level.
For Kansas City, the goal is clear: capitalize on Denver’s linebacker deficiencies to secure another division crown and keep their Super Bowl aspirations alive. If the Broncos can’t shore up this critical position, the Chiefs’ road to a 10th straight AFC West title—and perhaps another deep playoff run—will be smoother than ever.