Bo Nix excited to face off against Patrick Mahomes in pivotal AFC West matchup

Rivalry games always mean more to the teams that play them. When the Denver Broncos face off against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday that will certainly no exception.

The status of both franchises couldn't be any different. One of them is a perennial contender with multiple Super Bowl victories in the past eight seasons. The other is a team desperately trying to find its way after years of losing and mediocrity.

The Broncos are trying to bounce back after a disastrous loss to the Baltimore Ravens . For Kansas City, it's just business as usual. The Chiefs reign supreme in the AFC West and National Football League sporting an 8-0 record and are the only unbeaten team that remains. The odds are stacked against the Broncos, with the bookies having them at 7.5-point underdogs.

This matchup features two really good defenses, but it's also a tale of two different quarterbacks. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix is off to a good start in his rookie campaign. With each week that passes he appears to get better and feel more comfortable commanding Head Coach Sean Payton's complex offense. Only time will tell if he can become the franchise quarterback the Broncos have been searching for since Peyton Manning retired.

On the other side is Patrick Mahomes. A battle-tested veteran who has already cemented himself as one of the greatest to ever play just eight years into his career. However, this year Mahomes hasn't been as special. His performances and stat sheet don't look as great as prior seasons, but that doesn't mean the Broncos can afford to underestimate him. Nix certainly isn't.

"He's the best in the league right now. Everyone is trying to match him. Everybody's trying to catch up I feel like," stated Nix.

"He does a great job of just being himself, playing within the system and makes plays when his team needs him to."

For the Broncos to have a shot on Sunday, Nix is going to have to play very well, and the defense is going to need to tighten up. This Week 10 matchup provides a chance to earn their sixth win of the season and gain ground in a competitive AFC playoff race with a victory. On the flip side, a loss would give them a serious setback and put them back to being a .500 ball cub.

It's the biggest game for the Broncos this season. It's their most important game. It's an opportunity to make a statement and show they can hang with the best in the business. The stakes are high, but these are the type of games players live for—especially Nix—who is excited to prove himself against the Chiefs this weekend.

"I love it. I think this is the epitome of why you want to play in the NFL. You want to play against these defenses. You want to play against these legendary coaches. You want to play against these Hall of Fame quarterbacks," remarked Nix.