Kansas City, Mo. ? The last 10 days could not have gone much worse for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Beginning with a humiliating loss to Oakland, a team that had lost 16 consecutive games, and ending with the sobering news that popular and talented safety Eric Berry could have lymphoma, it has been a period marked by frustration, anxiety and uncertainty.

“It’s been a tough week for us. It’s a lot going on,” running back Jamaal Charles said, “but at the same time, we have to start getting focused. We have a big game this week.”

The Chiefs (7-4) welcome the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (8-3) to Arrowhead Stadium.

The game tonight between two bitter rivals has a little more riding on it this time around. After Kansas City lost a competitive game in Denver in Week 2, the beleaguered team needs a victory over Peyton Manning and Co. if it wants any shot at winning the division.

“We’re playing at home, a great environment to be playing a division team — we know we got to win this game,” Charles said. “This game is a go-out-there-and-get-it win. We know we have a tough challenge with a Hall of Famer and a great defense coming to town. I think we’re up for that challenge this week. We control our own destiny right now.”

So do the Broncos. Not only would a victory give them a stranglehold on the West, it would allow them to keep within striking distance of New England for the AFC’s best record.

“They have the same goals that we have. It’s really about who wants it more,” Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said. “We’ll have our hands full.”

It’s not as if the Broncos haven’t had to overcome their own adversity lately.

After losing Montee Ball to a groin injury and Ronnie Hillman to a foot issue, they have leaned on second-year, third-string running back C.J. Anderson to balance the offense.

Tight end Julius Thomas remained limited in practice this week after hurting his ankle Nov. 16 against St. Louis.

DENVER (8-3) at KANSAS CITY (7-4)

Today, 7:30 p.m. NBC (WOW! channels 8, 14, 208, 214)

LINE — Broncos by 1 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD — Denver 5-6, Kansas City 9-2

SERIES RECORD — Chiefs lead 56-53

LAST MEETING — Broncos beat Chiefs 24-17, Sept. 14, 2014

LAST WEEK — Broncos beat Dolphins 39-36; Chiefs lost to Raiders 24-20

AP PRO32 RANKING — Broncos No. 3, Chiefs No. 10 (tie)

BRONCOS OFFENSE — OVERALL (3), RUSH (21), PASS (2).

BRONCOS DEFENSE — OVERALL (6), RUSH (2), PASS (15).

CHIEFS OFFENSE — OVERALL (23), RUSH (4), PASS (31).

CHIEFS DEFENSE — OVERALL (8), RUSH (26), PASS (1).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Broncos have won five straight in series. They have not lost at Arrowhead Stadium since December 2010. … Denver has NFL’s second-best pass offense. Kansas City has league’s best pass defense. … Broncos signed K Connor Barth and waived K Brandon McManus on Tuesday. Barth entered league with Chiefs as college free agent. … Broncos are only team in NFL to rank in top 10 in offense and defense. … Denver WRs Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are tied for league lead with seven 100-yard receiving games. Rod Smith has franchise record with eight in a season. … RB C.J. Anderson’s 167 yards rushing last week set Broncos record for undrafted player. … Broncos DE Demarcus Ware needs a half-sack to tie Hall of Fame Chiefs LB Derrick Thomas (126 1/2) for 14th in league history. … Chiefs will play without S Eric Berry. He went on non-football injury list Monday after mass suspected to be lymphoma was found in his chest. … Kansas City LB Justin Houston has a league-leading 13 sacks.