DENVER — The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are a lot alike.

Stout secondaries.

Speedy sack masters.

Scuffling ground games.

Problems protecting the passer.

Quarterbacks seeking to regain their preinjury form.

Both teams are 7-3.

One averages 22.2 points, the other 23.9.

One surrenders 18.7 points a game, the other 18.9.

The difference when they play tonight in Denver could come down to this: The Broncos are fresher.

Benefiting from their late bye week, several players are healthy again, most notably cornerback Aqib Talib (back), defensive end Derek Wolfe (elbow), linebacker Brandon Marshall (hamstring), fullback Andy Janovich (hand) and quarterback Trevor Siemian (shoulder).

The Chiefs are coming off a 19-17 loss at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that ended the five-game winning streak they put together coming off their bye in Week?5.

With starters Talib and Wolfe back and DeMarcus Ware ready to increase his workload now that he's been back for a month from a broken arm, Denver's defense is at full strength for the first time since the opener. The mood around team headquarters reflects a growing confidence they can repeat last year's spectacular stretch run that resulted in a championship.

“I'm back, baby!” Talib declared as he prepared to end his three-game hiatus. “My legs feel extra fresh and I just feel like super-fresh right now.”

Wolfe missed Denver's most recent game with a hyperextended right elbow.

“I hated it,” Wolfe said. “I don't like watching the game in the first place. I like playing it. Standing on the sideline is miserable anyway.”

Before he got hurt in Week 4, Siemian regularly escaped pressure in the pocket and ran for first downs when his receivers were covered. “You didn't see that the last three or four weeks,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “So, hopefully with that freshness, you'll start to see some more of that again.”

The banged-up Chiefs aren't in nearly as good shape as the Broncos.

Missing his third straight game is wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who hurt his groin Nov. 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and hasn't played since. His absence has coincided with a pronounced drop in production by the offense.

Outside linebacker Dee Ford, tied for the NFL lead with 10 sacks, is out with a pulled hamstring, and defensive tackle Jaye Howard is out with a hip flexor.

The Chiefs hope to get top cornerback Marcus Peters, who has eight takeaways, back from a hip pointer.

“We'd love to have them all,” Kansas City defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. “Three weeks ago, we'd have loved to have Justin [Houston], but it is what it is. We can't cancel.”

The NFL originally had the Patriots-Jets game scheduled for tonight but switched it to this terrific rivalry, which Kansas City leads 57-55.

“You have two great teams going at it with the same record — that's what the people want to see,” Broncos linebacker Von Miller said. “We're going to give it to them playing a big-time game.”