In a game like this, it's significant': Broncos relish home-field advantage ahead of Week 8 ...

Broncos Return Home to Empower Field for High-Stakes Week 8 Clash Against Chiefs

As the Denver Broncos prepare to host the Kansas City Chiefs for a divisional rematch in Week 8, the team is returning to Empower Field at Mile High after dropping their season opener to the opponent at Arrowhead Stadium back in Week 1, denverbroncos.com reported.

The stakes are clear for the Mile High City squad. Holding a 3-0 record at home this season—with victories over the Jaguars, Rams, and Seahawks—Denver enters the matchup looking to leverage a distinct geographic and atmospheric edge. Head Coach Sean Payton pointed directly to that home-field advantage on Wednesday when speaking with reporters about the upcoming contest.

“Our home games have been amazing,” Payton said Wednesday, as reported by denverbroncos.com. “It’s hard to measure the end results, but it’s been significant. Our crowd noise, all of that just adds stress to the operation. … I think in a game like this, it’s significant.”

The Numbers Behind the Mile High Advantage

Denver’s recent history on its home turf points to more than just loud fans. Since the start of the 2025 season, the Broncos have compiled an 11-1 regular-season record at Empower Field at Mile High, marking the best home mark in the entire NFL during that span. Furthermore, the team has won 16 of its last 17 regular-season home games overall, including two prime-time thrillers this year that required overcoming double-digit second-half deficits.

For players on the field, the combination of decibel levels and the physical toll of playing at 5,280 feet creates a formidable obstacle for visiting teams. Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto emphasized the disruption it causes for opposing offenses trying to execute their play calls.

“Obviously, it’s not easy to come play at [Empower Field at] Mile High, dealing with the altitude,” Bonitto said, according to denverbroncos.com. “You know how loud the fans get here, how crazy they can be. It’s an advantage for us on defense, whether it’s them struggling to get the calls in [or] up front, us being able to have an advantage getting off the rock.”

Managing the Divisional Stakes and the Next-Game Mentality

A victory on Sunday would lift the Broncos to a 6-2 record, placing them alone in first place in the AFC West heading into Week 9. While Payton acknowledged the long-term implications for the division race and the team’s ultimate goal of securing the best possible playoff seed, players have maintained a strict focus on the immediate task.

In a game like this, it's significant': Broncos relish home-field advantage ahead of Week 8 ...

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton noted that the team is treating the rivalry matchup with standard weekly discipline, calling it “the most important one because it’s the next one.” Quarterback Bo Nix echoed that sentiment, emphasizing a consistent preparation routine regardless of the opponent’s jersey.

Tackle Mike McGlinchey added perspective on the rarity of what Denver has built at home, comparing it to the notoriously difficult environment the Broncos face when traveling to Kansas City.

“I would argue the two places are as hard to play [at] as there is in the country and the NFL,” McGlinchey said Wednesday, as reported by denverbroncos.com. “Arrowhead is obviously a really tough place to play. And our place in the last couple years has become, I think, one of the hardest places to play. Obviously, the crowd noise, but also our elemental advantage here — the altitude — is pretty awesome.”

Looking Ahead to Kickoff

With Payton reiterating the team’s core objectives—winning the division, securing a top playoff seed, and chasing a championship—the spotlight shifts entirely to Sunday afternoon. Inside linebacker Justin Strnad summed up the expectation for the fan base as the team looks to level the head-to-head series against their division rivals.