The Kansas City Chiefs stand in the Denver Broncos\u2019 way in Week 11, and fourth-year starting outside linebacker Nik Bonitto knows what is at stake. Bonitto is coming off a Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro season in 2024, and he is having another strong campaign in 2025.<\/p>\n
The Broncos need him and the rest of their defense to be sharp against the Chiefs and two-time MVP quarterback\u00a0Patrick Mahomes.<\/p>\n
Bonitto is \u201cexcited\u201d about the opportunity.<\/p>\n
GettyNik Bonitto #15 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a sack against the\u00a0Tennessee Titans.<\/p>\n
Bonitto, 26, has 9.5 sacks this season, good for second place in the league entering Week 11 against Mahomes and the Chiefs. He ranks\u00a015th in sacks\u00a0since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2022 and is\u00a0sixth\u00a0since the start of the 2023 campaign, per Stathead.<\/p>\n
Bonitto finished third in sacks in 2024.<\/p>\n
Bonitto has faced Mahomes five times in his six encounters with the Chiefs. However, he has only managed to sack the three-time Super Bowl champion once, in Week 10 last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the guy everybody looks to when it comes to sack on the quarterback,\u201d\u00a0Bonitto told reporters\u00a0in attendance at a charity event for his foundation on November 10. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the best in our game. So, for sure excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahomes and the Chiefs are coming off their bye week, where head coach\u00a0Andy Reid\u00a0is strong.<\/p>\n
However, Mahomes also had a career-worst performance against the\u00a0Buffalo Bills\u00a0in Week 9 in terms of completion percentage. Now, he faces Bonitto and the sack-leading Broncos.<\/p>\n
GettyNik Bonitto #15 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after facing the\u00a0Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n
The Broncos sit atop the AFC West at 8-2, tied for the best record in the\u00a0NFL, heading into this contest.\u00a0The Los Angeles Chargers\u00a0are in second at 7-3.<\/p>\n
Still, it is the Chiefs whom Bonitto says the Broncos must go through to assert themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis division\u2019s been run by the Chiefs for so many years now,\u201d Bonitto said. \u201cIf we\u2019re going to want to be that team to win the vision and reach the goals that we said we want, we\u2019re going to have to go through them and beat them. So, we\u2019re excited for the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chiefs have won the AFC West nine years running. Conversely, the Broncos\u2019 last division crown came in 2015.<\/p>\n
Of course, the Broncos also won the Super Bowl that season.<\/p>\n
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on during a game against the\u00a0Houston Texans.<\/p>\n
Bonitto\u2019s comments reflect the messaging coming from Broncos head coach\u00a0Sean Payton\u00a0heading into the contest against the Chiefs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving this mini weekend, especially with Kansas City coming off a bye, look, it\u2019ll be an important game,\u201d\u00a0Payton told reporters\u00a0on November 10. \u201cObviously, it\u2019s a divisional game. And we\u2019ll be ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chiefs are 5-4 and have significant protection issues in front of Mahomes.<\/p>\n
Mahomes\u2019 5.1% sack rate is the third-highest of his career, behind only 2024 and his rookie season in 2017, when he played in one game.<\/p>\n
Bonitto and the defense have done well to keep the Broncos in games where the offense has struggled to get going. Facing a Chiefs offense navigating similar issues, Bonitto and the Broncos\u2019 defense could get off to an even faster start than usual.<\/p>\n
We got injury updates on Frank Nazar and Jason Dickinson yesterday. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs might be missing their best player when they come to town.<\/p>\n
The Chicago Blackhawks are back at the United Center tonight as they host the Eastern Conference-leading New Jersey Devils. Check back in this afternoon for a complete game preview and again late tonight for postgame analysis. Until then, here are some fresh Morning Chirps to hold you over.<\/p>\n
Auston Matthews went to the Leafs dressing room after taking this hit from Zadorov\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/MxVL6cyPNH<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Kansas City Chiefs stand in the Denver Broncos\u2019 way in Week 11, and fourth-year starting outside linebacker Nik Bonitto knows what is at stake. Bonitto is coming off a Pro Bowl…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t