What are the odds the 9-0 Chiefs and Broncos play in Week 11?

Only two unbeaten teams are still standing in the NFL, and both are in the AFC West. That means that even if the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs continue to tear the opposition apart, something will eventually have to give.

"Eventually" is actually capped at Week 11, because that's when the Broncos and Chiefs will meet in Denver. 

If the Broncos and Chiefs each win their next three games, it'll be the first time in NFL history that two 9-0 teams have met. Essentially, the two will have a stronger combined record than any game in the history of the league, beating out a 2007 matchup between the 8-0 Patriots and the 7-0 Colts. Throw in that this would also be a divisional battle between an unstoppable force (Denver's offense) and an immovable object (Kansas City's defense) and this could be the most super-awesome matchup we've ever had during an NFL regular season.

What are the odds we get the regular-season matchup of the century? Let's break it down.

Denver has a tougher road. And when you consider that the Broncos have slipped up a bit lately on both sides of the ball (they gave up 48 points in Dallas and the offense wasn't as crisp against the Jaguars), they could be in trouble this week on the road against the Colts. Not only is Indy at home, but it has won three of its last four. Two of those wins came against NFC heavyweights San Francisco and Seattle, so they won't shy away from the powerhouse Broncos. 

The Washington defense shouldn't pose too much of a challenge back in Denver, and at least they have a bye before traveling to San Diego. Manning has won seven straight games coming off a bye week, averaging 35 points per game in those victories.

So if the Broncos can win in Indianapolis Sunday night, they'll likely be 9-0 in Week 11. Right now, they're a 6.5-point favorite Vegas favorite for that game. We'll see.

As for the Chiefs, they get to host a Texans team that has lost four straight games in rather embarrassing fashion, followed by another home matchup with Brandon Weeden and the terrible Browns, who are much worse than their record would indicate. They're a 6.5-point favorite to beat Houston, and I'd imagine they'll be an even bigger fave next weekend. 

Kansas City's only real challenge should come in Buffalo in Week 9. At home this year, the Bills have taken Cincinnati into overtime, nearly beaten the Patriots and taken care of the Panthers and Ravens. They're playing good football at Ralph Wilson Stadium, so anything can happen in that one. 

Based on all of the above, I'd say that it's about a 50/50 chance either team is unbeaten in Week 11, maybe a little above that. No more than 60 percent. And thus the odds, in my opinion, are still in favor of the all-unbeaten matchup not taking place. A little advanced algebra tells us that if the odds of two independent occupancies are both 60 percent, the likelihood of both happening is about 36 percent. In this case, that's probably generous.

About Brad Gagnon

Brad Gagnon has been passionate about both sports and mass media since he was in diapers -- a passion that won't die until he's in them again. Based in Toronto, he's worked as a national NFL blog editor at theScore.com (covering Super Bowls XLIV, XLV and XLVI), a producer and writer at theScore Television Network and a host, reporter and play-by-play voice at Rogers TV. His work has also appeared at Deadspin, FoxSports.com, The Guardian, The Hockey News and elsewhere at Bloguin, but his day gig has him covering all things NFC East for Bleacher Report.

Quantcast