Sunday night in KC has great significance for Justin Simmons

No doubt Sunday’s prime time tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs is one of the biggest — if not the biggest — games the Denver Broncos have played since Super Bowl 50.

Under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football, Denver takes on their bitter AFC West rival, in their house, to earn the division’s top spot.

And it’s not as if the Broncos have been playing a lot of meaningful football in December the past few seasons.

But Sunday’s showdown at Arrowhead Stadium feels perhaps a bit more significance for safety Justin Simmons.

You see, the six-year NFL veteran has yet to claim a victory over the Chiefs.

“From a team standpoint, I guess the right word would be ‘disappointing,’” Simmons told reporters on Wednesday. “Obviously, I haven’t beaten them since I’ve been here, and that’s really the emphasis.”

Drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by Denver, Simmons was joining the reigning world champions. But even that Super Bowl 50 squad from the previous year split their season series with Kansas City.

Five seasons later, the Chiefs dominance over the Broncos has grown to 11 consecutive wins.

And while Simmons says he doesn’t normally dwell on the past — or the future, for that matter — having never tasted victory over their AFC West foe has gotten under his skin a bit.

“I really just like focusing in on the now and what’s at stake right now. But with that being said, at some point it does piss you off a little bit,” Simmons said. “I’m looking forward to Sunday.”

With everything that’s on the line in Sunday’s game, coupled with the chance to end a half-decade-long skid against the Chiefs, “without a doubt” this is the biggest game Simmons has played in his six-year career.

“Everyone knows if you want to be where the Broncos are used to being, you’ve got to beat Kansas City, especially at Arrowhead,” Simmons said. “So, I’m really excited for Sunday night.”