Chiefs Stumble in Denver, but Oh That Comeback!

Chiefs Stumble in Denver,

but Oh That Comeback!

by Laddie Morse

The Kansas City Chiefs and their high powered offense marched into Denver and laid a brick for three quarters. Then, Patrick “The New Legend” Mahomes led a late 4th quarter comeback that will be remembered for decades (see the end of this piece). It must also be mentioned that Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt had a great game with 19 carries for 121 yards which, in the end, was a big reason the Chiefs beat back the Broncos, 27-to-23.

After trading field goals in the first quarter, each team scored a TD with Patrick Mahomes running one in from 8 yards out. Denver added another FG before the half to take a 13-to-10 lead into the break.

On the Chiefs opening drive of the second half, they took it all the way down into the Broncos end of the field but the drive stalled out and they had to settle for a FG. 13-to-13.

Safety Eric Murray made a great interception which… resulted in the Chiefs having to punt the ball after two penalties on LT Eric Fisher.

Next the Broncos drove down the field and diminutive, 5-foot-8 inch, RB Phillip Lindsay punched it in from two yards out for a Broncos TD. Denver: 20-to-13.

On the Chiefs next drive they went 3-and-out forcing their own defense back onto the field. Poor tackling had the announcers talking about the Chiefs defense as “the worst defense in the NFL” in the same breath after a run by Royce Freeman and a bad tackling effort by Breeland Speaks.

The Broncos essentially beat the Chiefs at their own game for 3 quarters of the game. Sending their FB on a wheel route for 20 yards was poorly defended by the Chiefs. In fact, it wasn’t defended at all until after he caught the ball for a long gain. The Broncos used their running game to keep Patrick Mahomes and their “elite” offense off the field most of the game. OLB Dee Ford added a sack on the day along with three tackles so he had a pretty good day. After a Broncos TD drive… they kicked another FG to up by, 23-to-13.

The inside-outside rushing attack of the Broncos was a winning combination for Denver. They had the speed to get outside — and their Chiefs OLBs didn’t consistently set the edge — plus they were able to pound the ball up the middle. What it all means is that the Broncos kept the Chiefs offense sitting on the bench.

On defense, the Broncos mixed up their coverages. They even disguised where the blitz was coming from lining up 3 DBs on one side then dropping them all into coverage while a DB came from the other side.

The Game Winning Drive

With 12 minutes left in the 4th quarter Mahomes began a long drive for the Chiefs setting up a 1st and goal from the one yard line. Reid called a time out and then Mahomes quick snaps the ball and turns to throw it to Travis Kelce lined up just wide right in the backfield… then Kelce turns upfield and scores a Chiefs TD. It took 53 and a half minutes for the Chiefs vaunted offense to score a passing TD. Broncos 23-to-20.

Then… the Chiefs defense forced a 3-and-out setting up the Chiefs final drove with 4:35 to play. A crossing route to Tyreek Hill picked up 9 yards. A pass in the flat to Hill lost 3 yards. With a 3rd and 5… then… then.. then… Patrick Mahomes escaped left from the pass rush and threw a pass to Hill… WITH HIS LEFT HAND … and hill made a 1st down.

An intentional grounding penalty and a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 31 with a 2nd and 30… and Mahomes hit Demarcus Robinson for 23. Next… Mahomes hit Demetrius Harris for a 35 yard gain.

TWO MINUTE WARNING

From the 11 yard line… Mahomes hits Kelce in the end zone but he was driven out of bounds. The play was defensive interference so the ball was moved to the six. First and goal with 1:49 left.

Kareem Hunt runs to the right to the three yard line. 2nd and goal.

Kareem Hunt runs left for a Kansas City Touchdown!

Chiefs: a 27-to-23 lead.

The Broncos Final Drive

The Broncos then marched their offense down the field to the Chiefs 28 with 28 seconds left. Kendall Fuller then nearly intercepted a ball thrown to Emmanuel Sanders. Keenum then over threw Demaryius Thomas at the five-yard line.

4th and 10 and… the Chiefs called their final time out.

Then Case Keenum hit Courtland Sutton at the first down mark but he tries to lateral the ball to Emmanuel Sanders… it was ruled a incomplete pass and the ball turned over on down.

Kansas City wins their 6th in a row vs Denver: 27-to-23.

K.C. outscored Denver 14-to-3 in the 4th quarter to pull this one out late. Whew!

[Photos by Jim Berry, Andrew Mather and Steve Sanders]

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