When you look at the landscape of the NFL, few matchups carry the weight, history, and pure animosity of the Denver Broncos versus the Kansas City Chiefs. It is a clash of AFC West titans that has spanned decades, defined by legendary quarterbacks, deafening stadiums, and finishes that defy logic.

For fans in the Rocky Mountains and the plains of Missouri, this isn’t just another date on the calendar. It is a biannual ritual of stress and excitement. From the early days of the AFL to the modern era of high-flying offenses, these two franchises have traded blows in a way that has shaped the trajectory of the entire league.

Whether you bleed orange and blue or wear the red and gold, understanding the history of this rivalry is essential to appreciating modern football. We are going to take a deep dive into the origins, the icons, and specifically, the biggest games that turned this divisional matchup into one of the sport’s greatest spectacles.

Origins of the Broncos–Chiefs Rivalry

To understand the hatred, you have to go back to the beginning. This rivalry predates the Super Bowl era, rooting itself in the formation of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960. The Chiefs were originally the Dallas Texans before moving to Kansas City in 1963, but the friction with Denver was instantaneous.

Both teams were charter members of the AFL Western Division. In those early years, the Chiefs (led by the legendary Lamar Hunt) were the class of the league, often overpowering a struggling Broncos franchise. The Chiefs dominated the 1960s, winning the AFL title three times and Super Bowl IV. Denver, meanwhile, spent that decade trying to find its footing, often playing second fiddle to Kansas City’s star-studded roster.

However, the dynamic began to shift as the leagues merged. The rivalry hardened not just through proximity, but through familiarity. Playing each other twice a year for over 60 years creates a specific kind of contempt. It is a history written in cold weather, bruised ribs, and the constant battle for AFC West supremacy.

Most Iconic Broncos vs. Chiefs Games

A rivalry is only as good as its closest contests, and this series has delivered drama in spades. The most iconic games between these two aren’t always blowouts; they are the defensive stands, the last-second field goals, and the moments where a single play shifted the balance of power in the conference.

We have seen comebacks that seemed impossible. We have witnessed shootouts between Hall of Fame quarterbacks that looked more like video games than gridiron battles. From the muddy trenches of the 70s to the aerial acrobatics of today, the sheer variety of classic games makes selecting the best ones a difficult task. Yet, certain Sundays stand out as turning points in NFL history.

Biggest Broncos vs. Chiefs Games of the 1960s–1980s

While the Chiefs owned the 60s, the rivalry truly ignited in the 70s and 80s as Denver rose to prominence. This era established the home-field advantages that remain terrifying today: the altitude of Mile High and the acoustics of Arrowhead.

The 1974 Monday Night Football Debut

On October 14, 1974, the rivalry hit the national stage. It was the first time these two met on Monday Night Football, and it ended in a 17-14 victory for the Chiefs at Mile High Stadium. It was a gritty, defensive affair that set the tone for how the rest of the decade would play out—close, physical, and often decided by a single score.

The Elway Arrival (1983–1989)

The rivalry changed forever in 1983 when John Elway arrived in Denver. Suddenly, the Broncos weren’t just scrappy underdogs; they were contenders. One of the defining games of this era occurred in December 1985. The Broncos, fighting for a playoff spot, edged out the Chiefs 14-13. It was a game that highlighted Elway’s ability to will his team to victory, a recurring nightmare for Kansas City fans throughout the 80s and 90s.

Memorable Matchups of the 1990s

The 1990s represented the Golden Era of the rivalry. With the arrival of Marty Schottenheimer in Kansas City and Mike Shanahan in Denver, the intensity reached a boiling point.

The Monday Night Duel: Montana vs. Elway (1994)

On October 17, 1994, football fans were treated to a dream matchup: Joe Montana, now a Chief, against John Elway. It remains one of the greatest Monday Night Football games ever played.

In the final minutes, Elway led a trademark drive to score a touchdown, putting Denver ahead with barely any time left. But Montana, defying age and logic, engineered a masterful 75-yard drive in the dying seconds, capping it with a touchdown pass to Willie Davis with eight seconds remaining. The Chiefs won 31-28, silencing Mile High and adding a brilliant chapter to Montana’s legacy.

The Divisional Round Heartbreaker (January 4, 1998)

This is arguably the most significant game in the history of the rivalry. The Chiefs were the #1 seed in the AFC with a 13-3 record. They had dominated the division. The Broncos were the Wild Card hopefuls.

Playing at a freezing Arrowhead Stadium, the Broncos pulled off a stunning 14-10 upset. Terrell Davis ran through the Chiefs’ defense, and Denver’s offensive line managed to neutralize Derrick Thomas. This win didn’t just knock Kansas City out; it propelled the Broncos to win Super Bowl XXXII, earning Elway his first ring. For Chiefs fans, this game remains a painful “what if.”

Broncos vs. Chiefs in the 2000s

As the new millennium began, the rivalry saw a shift in characters but maintained its chaotic nature. The 2000s were defined by spectacular special teams plays and unpredictable outcomes.

The Dante Hall Game (2003)

In 2003, the Chiefs were undefeated at 5-0, but the Broncos dominated most of the game at Arrowhead. With just over eight minutes left, Chiefs return specialist Dante Hall fielded a punt. He retreated to his own goal line, juked nearly the entire Broncos coverage team, and ran it back 93 yards for a touchdown. It is considered one of the greatest returns in NFL history and sparked a comeback that saw the Chiefs win 24-23.

The Clinton Portis Show (2002)

On the flip side, the Broncos found new stars. In a December 2002 matchup, rookie running back Clinton Portis exploded, rushing for big gains and helping Denver sweep the season series. It signaled that even without Elway, Denver remained a threat on the ground.

Modern-Era Classics (2010s–Present)

The rivalry has arguably never been more star-studded than in the last decade, featuring the transition from Peyton Manning to Patrick Mahomes.

The “Doink” Game (2016)

On a Sunday night in November 2016, the two teams engaged in a defensive slugfest that went into overtime. The Broncos opted to try a 62-yard field goal to win it, but Brandon McManus missed. This gave the Chiefs decent field position.

With seconds left in overtime, Chiefs kicker Cairo Santos lined up for the win. His kick hit the upright with a distinct “doink,” but miraculously banked through the goalposts. The Chiefs won 30-27, a victory that was pivotal in their playoff push and devastating for Denver’s title defense hopes.

Mahomes’ Monday Night Magic (2018)

In Patrick Mahomes’ first year as a starter, he faced the Broncos at Mile High on Monday Night Football. The Broncos led by 10 points in the fourth quarter. Facing a 3rd and long, and being chased out of the pocket by Von Miller, Mahomes switched the ball to his left hand and threw a completion to keep the drive alive. The Chiefs rallied to win 27-23. It was the moment the NFL realized Mahomes was not just good, but generational.

Breaking the Streak (2023)

Context is key here: leading up to October 2023, the Chiefs had beaten the Broncos 16 consecutive times. It was a streak of dominance rarely seen in professional sports. But on October 29, 2023, the Broncos defense forced five turnovers from Mahomes, shocking the Chiefs 24-9. It didn’t lead to a playoff run for Denver, but it ended a nearly decade-long curse that had hung over the franchise.

Playoff and Division-Deciding Games

While the 1997 playoff game stands alone in the postseason, many regular-season games have served as de facto elimination matches.

The Jamaal Charles Fumble (2015)

In Week 2 of the 2015 season, the Broncos traveled to Arrowhead. Peyton Manning looked old and the offense was struggling. With the game tied late, the Chiefs just needed to run out the clock to force overtime. Instead, Jamaal Charles fumbled. Denver cornerback Bradley Roby scooped it up and scored the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds left.

That singular play changed the seeding for the entire AFC. Denver eventually secured home-field advantage by one game over New England—a margin provided by this miraculous win—and went on to win Super Bowl 50.

Legendary Players in the Rivalry

The fierce competition has been fueled by some of the greatest to ever play the game.

For the Broncos:

• John Elway: The tormentor of Kansas City for nearly two decades.
• Shannon Sharpe: Known for his trash talk as much as his play, notably taunting Chiefs fans by reciting the phone number for the National Guard on the sideline during a blowout.
• Von Miller: A consistent nightmare for Alex Smith and early-career Mahomes.
• Terrell Davis: His performance in the ’97 playoffs is etched in stone.

For the Chiefs:

• Patrick Mahomes: The architect of the 16-game winning streak.
• Derrick Thomas: One of the most feared pass rushers in history, who had epic battles with Denver’s offensive line.
• Travis Kelce: A modern Bronco-killer who consistently finds the end zone against Denver.
• Christian Okoye: The “Nigerian Nightmare” who ran over defenders in the early 90s.

Venues & Home-Field Advantage

The stadiums are characters in this story.

Mile High Stadium (and Empower Field):
The altitude is real. The thin air at 5,280 feet has always given Denver a conditioning advantage, especially in the fourth quarter. During the peak rivalry years, the shaking of the old Mile High Stadium was intimidating enough to cause false starts before the ball was even snapped.

Arrowhead Stadium:
Known as the loudest stadium in the world, Arrowhead is a fortress. The “Sea of Red” creates a hostile environment that makes communication nearly impossible for opposing offenses. For the Broncos, winning at Arrowhead has always been the ultimate litmus test of a team’s toughness.

Why This Rivalry Still Matters Today

In an era of free agency where players change teams constantly, rivalries can sometimes lose their edge. Not this one. The Broncos vs. Chiefs game remains a “circle the date” event for three reasons:

1. The Quarterback Standard: The AFC West runs through the quarterback position. For years, Denver had the edge with Elway and Manning. Now, KC has the edge with Mahomes. The rivalry is a constant measurement of “Do we have the guy who can beat their guy?”
2. The Fans: The geographical proximity and the decades of history mean that families are often divided. The banter isn’t manufactured; it is generational.
3. The Stakes: Almost invariably, the road to the AFC West title requires winning these head-to-head matchups.

Conclusion

From the AFL dust-ups of the 1960s to the high-voltage drama of the Mahomes era, the Broncos vs. Chiefs rivalry stands as a monument to NFL history. It has given us Hall of Fame performances, heartbreaking losses, and moments of pure euphoria.

The 16-game winning streak by the Chiefs tested the resolve of Denver fans, but the 2023 upset proved that in this rivalry, nothing is guaranteed. As long as the orange and blue meet the red and gold twice a year, we are guaranteed drama. These aren’t just football games; they are chapters in an ongoing saga of two cities that simply cannot stand one another.

For the fans, the message is simple: Check the schedule, clear your Sunday, and prepare for battle.