Monday’s AFC West showdown could have major repercussions on the playoff race.

It’s not quite clear what to make of the Broncos in 2017. Denver has the firepower to drop 42 points on the Cowboys in Week 2 but still found a way to be shutout by a then-2-4 Chargers team just eight days ago. This random event generator of a football team will get another chance to surprise when it faces the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN (live stream).

Quarterback play remains the top concern for Denver, which failed to generate any meaningful offense behind Trevor Siemian last week. That’s not the case in Kansas City, where Alex Smith is playing the best football of his life to become an unlikely MVP candidate. The oft-conservative passer is leading the league in yards per pass efficiency while going interception-free through seven games. Another big performance Monday will strengthen his team’s hold on the top spot in the AFC West.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
• TV: ESPN
• Streaming: WatchESPN
• Odds: Kansas City is favored by 7.5 points.

Broncos at Chiefs news:

• The Chiefs defense may be their fatal flaw, but it’s too early to panic just yet.

“This is all play-calls. This is what play-callers do. ‘I could have done a little better here. Am I putting the guys in the right position to make a play? And do we have to make the play?’ and that’s what the team part is all about here,” said coach Andy Reid. “When everybody takes accountability for that, normally you can flip things around. To tell you that (defensive coordinator) Bob (Sutton) is not going to go back and look at things, he does that. I mean that’s what he does. He’s a great coach.”

• Boiled down, that essentially translates to “we can fix this.”

Von Miller: It’s not time to panic, it’s time to win.

“I feel like I can single-handedly change the game. I’ve done it before and I just need another one this week,” Miller told Mile High Report in an exclusive interview Monday, reiterating his post-game comments that difference-makers on the Broncos need to get more difference-making plays to help the offense. “Getting sacks are my job.”

• Denver needs Miller to go hard, because the Broncos offense isn’t very good right now.

• Through seven games, Kareem Hunt has broken more tackles than Ezekiel Elliott did in his entire rookie season.

Can the Broncos develop a running game against a vulnerable Chiefs defense?

Two weeks ago, Le’Veon Bell carved up Kansas City for 179 rushing yards. Last week, the Raiders — without Marshawn Lynch for much of the game — gained more than 4 yards per carry. That’s good news for a Broncos offense that’s failed to generate any kind of lasting efficiency on the ground this fall. Denver ranks 17th in the league in yards per carry. The Broncos will have to hope the platoon of Devontae Booker, C.J. Anderson, and Jamaal Charles can find some running room in prime time.

Broncos at Chiefs prediction:

It’s unanimous: Every one of our experts say the Chiefs will win this game.

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The worst Monday Night Football game ever