Here is who national experts predict will win KC Chiefs at Denver Broncos game

This recap of who NFL pundits are picking to win a Chiefs game looks vastly different than any in the Patrick Mahomes Era.

Nearly everyone is predicting the Chiefs will lose Sunday in Denver. The reason is simple.

The Chiefs are locked into the top spot in the AFC postseason field and many starters won’t play in Denver. The Broncos, however, are battling for the seventh and final spot in the playoffs.

“We’ve got to win the game,” receiver Courtland Sutton said in a story on the Broncos website. “Simple. There’s nothing else that goes into it. People say, ‘It’s never black and white.’ It’s black and white. We’ve got to win the game. And that’s as simple as it gets.”

Will Denver get it done? Here is who 57 experts are picking in the game, which starts at 3:25 p.m. and is being broadcast on KCTV (Ch. 5).

A 27-17 Broncos victory is the prediction from the Sporting News’ Bill Bender. Here is part of what he wrote: “The Chiefs are planning to rest starters in Week 18, meaning Carson Wentz will get the start. That theoretically creates a path for the Broncos to clinch a playoff spot with Bo Nix. This is still an AFC West game, however, and Kansas City’s defense will allow them to hang around.”

Denver will win 26-23, says the Associated Press’ Rob Maaddi. This is an excerpt from his story: “The Broncos need a victory to clinch their first playoff appearance since winning a Super Bowl nine years ago. Standing in their way will be a bunch of backups led by Carson Wentz filling in for Patrick Mahomes.”

The Broncos are the choice for all five writers at NFL.com: Ali Bhanpuri (26-16 final score), Brooke Cersosimo (27-21), Dan Parr (25-13), Gennaro Filice (26-14) and Tom Blair (23-17). This is part of what Blair wrote: “Though the Broncos have scuffled a little, losing two in a row, they should be plenty capable of clinching a postseason berth, presuming many of Kansas City’s most important players are parked on the sideline. Regardless of how far this squad might go after Sunday, finishing the regular-season strong can only be good for Sean Payton’s long-term project and for Bo Nix, the first Denver-developed quarterback to top 3,000 passing yards and 25 passing TDs in the same season since Jay Cutler did it in 2008.”

The Broncos are the pick for all eight writers at CBS Sports: Pete Prisco, Ryan Wilson, Dave Richard, Jared Dubin, Jamey Eisenberg, John Breech, Will Brinson and Tyler Sullivan. Prisco predicts a 20-17 score. This is from his story: “The Chiefs will be resting guys, so this doesn’t matter since they are locked as the top seed. But the Broncos need it to get into the playoffs. That’s pressure. The Chiefs still have a lot of good players and Carson Wentz is capable at quarterback.”

Taking the Broncos are all seven USA Today writers: Jarrett Bell (21-17 final score), Chris Bumbaca (22-19), Nate Davis (27-17), Tyler Dragon (26-17), Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (24-18), Lorenzo Reyes (21-16) and Jordan Mendoza (23-16). Here is what Mendoza wrote: “Denver needs to win this, and they get a prime opportunity against a resting Kansas City team. The Broncos take care of business to reach the postseason.”

The Broncos are the choice for the seven writers at the Athletic: Josh Kendall, Nick Kosmider, Larry Holder, Ben Standig, Tashan Reed, Chad Graff and Austin Mock. Here is a snippet of Scott Phillips’ story: “Stingy during the first half of the season, Denver’s secondary has growing concerns opposite star corner Patrick Surtain II. The Bengals and Joe Burrow torched the Broncos’ overwhelmed secondary for 412 passing yards in Week 17 — constantly attacking corner Riley Moss in his return from injury.”

Taking the Broncos are five of the six Sports Illustrated writers: Albert Breer, Mitch Goldich, Gilberto Manzano, John Pluym and Matt Verderame. Going with the Chiefs is Conor Orr.

The Broncos are the pick for the Pro Football Talk writers: Mike Florio (26-17 final score) and Chris Simms (20-17).

Denver will win, say nine of 10 Dallas Morning-News members: Tim Cowlishaw, Joey Hayden, Kevin Sherrington, Craig Miller, Calvin Watkins, David Moore, Dana Larson, Damon Marx and Newy Scruggs. Picking the Chiefs is Abraham Nudelstejer.

The Broncos are the pick for eight of 10 ESPN experts: Mike Clay, Jason Reid, Lindsey Thiry, Matt Bowen, Kalyn Kahler, Seth Wickersham, Jeremy Fowler and Moses Moody. Going with the Chiefs are Dan Graziano and Kimberly Martin.