Goin' Sixty With Me-Chiefs and Broncos October 25th

For the second straight matchup the Kansas City Chiefs and Broncos would play in the show, this time in Denver. Last December in KC, the conditions were anything but an impediment, as the Chiefs rolled 20-3, the ninth consecutive time the Chiefs have beaten the Broncos. Denver came into this one with a little momentum, having won consecutive road games, but the Chiefs were almost a ten point favorite early the week. Perhaps the conditions were part of it, but some money came in late, and it was basically a touchdown line at kickoff. Early indications as the game rolled out made that late money look like bad money.

Another example of how teams who face the Chiefs do things differently comes up right away as the Broncos win the toss, but defer, not wanting the Chiefs to get the jump. A quick failure there as the Broncos go three and out, and do it painfully with two meager plays setting up a third down throwaway by Drew Lock. The plan looked doubly worse as the Chiefs roll down the field is easy-peasy fashion, with a couple of snappy turns by Mecole Hardman leading to a bruising 11 yard touchdown run by Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Another impotent three and out, and then a big gainer in progress on the first down play by the Chiefs, and it was looking mighty dandy. But at the end of the catch by Seth Keyson, he fumbled, and the lifeline was there for Denver, right when they were drowning. The Broncos didn’t waste the gift, flying down the field and punching it in on a Drew Lock keeper. Tie game……oops….extra point no good, but still, the Broncos had a pulse at 7-6..

Speaking of a pulse, Leveon Bell introduced himself as a Chief with a 26 yard run, kicking off a drive that immediately thereafter feature another big play to Hardman. But on third down, Denver does what everybody has stopped doing. They blitzed Mahomes and it worked for a sack that forced a Butker field goal. Even though that seems like a win these days against Patrick and the boys, it’s still three points and a 10-6 lead.

Time for the Chiefs D to make a big play. Tershawn Worden punches the ball away from Melvin Gordon, and the Chiefs have a chance to grab control again. No go, three and out capped by the second sack of Mahomes, who has less escapability on the gooey field. But there might be some concern that the revamped line that excelled in the run last week, might be less effective in the pass game.

The Broncos seemed to be easing into the game when they drove out from the one to midfield featuring some power running. But under pressure, Drew Lock throws a hideous ball in the flat that Dirty Dan Sorenson gobbles up and takes to the house and it’s 17-6. The Broncos don’t fall into the trap of ditching the running game, and mount a drive. It stalls, but does yield a field goal, and the Broncos may be on the ropes, but they are still hanging in at 17-9.

For about twelve seconds. The Chiefs return game has been awful this year, but with Hardman starting at wide receiver, he gave his kickoff return duties to Byron Pringle. He goes all K-State on the Broncos with a 102 yard return, and its certainly looking like easy street for the Chiefs. The Chiefs become the first team in the NFL this year with an offensive, defensive, and special teams touchdown in the same game.

It settles down for the rest of the half and the Chiefs are comfy and warm with an all phases 24-9 lead. The nature of the game is showed in the fact that all seems well, despite just eleven throws and 99 yards passing from Patrick Mahomes. The only fly in the ointment that the Chiefs consistently make irrelevant is their substandard run defense. The Broncos are averaging almost seven yards a carry, but it’s merely an asterisk.

The Chiefs start off the second half with a three and ut that features the third sack of Mahomes, but Denver continues to pile on the calamities as Melvin Gordon botches a pitch back on a flea flicker. The Chiefs don’t cash for seven as Edwards-Helaire drops a touchdown. but still all is good after Butker gives them three and a 27-9 lead.

It was name the score time now and the only question was whether Patrick Mahomes would extend his games with a TD streak to sixteen, and they took care of that detail with a nice little deal to Tyreek Hill. It really wasn’t a vintage offensive day for the Chiefs, but that is hardly any issue at all. The Chiefs continue their pattern of winning games in different ways, They likely could have won this game by winging it around, but they didn’t have to.

If you want some lint to pick, it still seems if the game at hand is playing out in more conventional fashion, the Chiefs run defense is still an issue. The Broncos were pretty much running at will, but that became irrelevant, as it often does. And though the games flow likely had much to do with it, this was another game in which the opposing defense had some answers for the Chiefs. Some. Oh yeah, and Butker missed yet another extra point. Since he made a bunch of extra point length field goals, this has to have gotten to be a mental thing.

But all in all, it was just a nice day at the office, and they have a bye….I mean a game with the Jets next week.

43-16….fun!