Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs
Final Score: Chiefs 16 – Broncos 14
Writer: Cesar Escajeda (@cescajeda13 on Twitter)
The Broncos came out swinging on the road, but Kansas City pulled off an improbable walk-off blocked FG, snatching victory from an almost surefire defeat, and remained the sole undefeated team in the NFL.
Two Up
- Bo Nix, QB (DEN) – As menacing as Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has historically been against rookie signal callers, Nix had no problem going toe-to-toe with the defending Super Bowl champs in this game, tossing two TDs through the air on the road. He was remarkably efficient in hostile territory, going 73% on his passing attempts while leading the Broncos to a lead early on. It wasn’t enough in this game,unfortunately – but considering how well Nix is playing in year one, Denver has to be ecstatic for the future.
- Travis Kelce, TE (KC) – Kelce was the only Chiefs’ player to register a score on the day, but it was a big one. His afternoon was mild by his standards, but considering he tied legendary TE Tony Gonzalez for most TDs for the franchise all time, that makes him a winner in my book.
One Down
- Kansas City Chiefs’ Offensive Line – It’s been amazing watching Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs win games in spite on terrible line play. The Broncos absolutely harassed Kansas City’s signal caller for four sacks on the day, pressuring him on what felt like every dropback. It’s two straight weeks that Mahomes is brought down four times on the day, and it’s even more concerning considering starting OT Wanya Morris was forced to leave the game with a leg injury. The good news is he was able to return late in the game – the bad news is that the unit appears to be a weakness going forward – one that could cost games or worse, get the former Red Raider QB hurt.
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
Bo Nix: 22/30, 215 Yards, 2 TDs, 1 FUM | 3 Carries, -5 Yards
The road atmosphere and the stout nature of the Chiefs’ defense didn’t phase the rookie on Sunday afternoon.
Nix did not seem to have a problem moving the ball early against Kansas City’s secondary, finding the likes of Courtland Sutton and Devaughn Vele for scores in the first half that put the Broncos up by 11 leading up to halftime. He spread the ball around to a litany of receivers on the day, finding eight different pass catchers to stretch the field against Spagnuolo’s unit. He fizzled out in the second half however, failing to push Denver into scoring position until the very last possession. Had Nix and company been able to keep the pressure up it may not have neeeded to come down to a final FG attempt in the waning seconds – but hindsight is 20/20, and against a formidable opponent, the rookie sure shined.
Running Back
Audric Estime: 14 Carries, 53 Yards
The rookie RB from Notre Dame carved out a lead role for the first time all season.
It wasn’t a world-beater performance by Estime, but he did enough to warrant the top dog status out of the backfield against the Chiefs, taking the lion’s share of carries (14) for 53 yards on the ground. He out touched every other RB in the room by a country mile, and while his 3.8 YPC average wasn’t great, he looked sprightly running the ball and has apparently earned head coach Sean Peyton‘s trust going forward.
To do so against DT Chris Jones and a staunch Kansas City front seven is no joke.
Javonte Williams: 1 Carry, 1 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 6 Yards
It’s a steep fall from grace for Williams, going from the top of the pecking order to a complete afterthought in the span of a handful of weeks. One carry the entire afternoon is damning, and I know there’s a plethora of fantasy managers upset after this one.
Jaleel McLaughlin: 2 Carries, 12 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Courtland Sutton: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 70 Yards, 1 TD
Sutton had no problem booming against one of the better secondaries in the league.
The team leader in targets, receptions, and yardage had a fairly easy afternoon with Nix slinging him the ball, dicing up the secondary time and time again. His long of 32 yards resulted in his TD reception, the second for the Broncos on the day that stretched out their early lead. It’s yet another standout performance for the veteran that highlights his connection and importance in this offense, a feather in the hat of stalwart production on the year.
The game wasn’t entirely without flaw on his part, however. A dropped pass near the end of the first half prevented a better scoring opportunity for the Broncos, one that would eventually prove costly on the final play of the game.
Devaughn Vele: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 39 Yards, 1 TD
Another rookie taking his game to the next level against a quality opponent.
Vele has had a shaky year to start off his career, but against the Chiefs he shined early and often with relative ease. Tied for second on the team in every category, the first TD scored in the game went to Vele, a quick strike down the middle for 6 yards. His involvement in the game plan was very encouraging considering the hit-or-miss nature of his previous outings, so hopefully this showing is a sign of things to come going forward.
Adam Trautman: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 34 Yards
Lucas Krull: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 21 Yards
Marvin Mims Jr.: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 13 Yards | 3 Carries, 17 Yards
Troy Franklin: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 9 Yards
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: 28/42, 266 Yards, 1 TD | 3 Carries, 19 Yards
Even in a mild game from Mahomes, the Chiefs find ways to win.
The Broncos’ defense gave the veteran signal caller all that he could handle on the afternoon, registering four sacks and amping up the pressure on virtually every snap. Denver’s secondary also made it a mission to neutralize KC’s play makers on the boundary, and considering Mahomes only managed a single passing TD in the game, they did their job. The star QB inevitably finds a way, however, and he was able to lead the offense into FG range enough times to take the lead behind a great second half effort by the Chiefs’ defense. The numbers weren’t high like many probably expected when they drafted him this year, but Mahomes did just enough to keep Kansas City in the win column for another week.
Running Back
Kareem Hunt: 14 Carries, 35 Yards | 10 Targets, 7 Receptions, 65 Yards
A leader on the ground (and in the air) for Kansas City, Hunt had himself a solid day.
His average rushing the ball was pedestrian at best (2.5 YPC), but he more than made up for it by leading all KC pass catchers with 65 yards on seven receptions. His voluminous involvement was extremely positive, especially considering how much of a safety net he became for his QB, but his YAC ability really helped him separate and create stats in space. For the time being, Hunt is the best option in the RB room and has earned his opportunities this year.
Carson Steele: 2 Carries, 3 Yards
Samaje Perine: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 37 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Travis Kelce: 12 Targets, 8 Receptions, 64 Yards, 1 TD
Kelce had a historic outing yet again at Arrowhead Stadium.
The numbers were low by his usual standards, but on a day where he hit a 8-64-1 statline, he ties the likes of legendary TE Tony Gonzalez among the franchise’s top scorers. Kelce once again found ways to get open in the Broncos secondary, hitting gap after gap in coverage and leading the Chiefs in targets with 12. The fact that KC got the win with just a single TD from Mahomes to Kelce is a perfect microcosm of the time both star players have had on this team.
DeAndre Hopkins: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 56 Yards
It sure wasn’t last week’s performance, but Hopkins chipped in his share to secure the win. It’s notable that just a few weeks after the trade that brought him to town, he’s swiftly became the go-to wideout on the boundary in the WR corps.
Noah Gray: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 18 Yards
Xavier Worthy: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 11 Yards
The first-round rookie and Mahomes continue to have flaws in their connection.
Peyton Hendershot: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
Justin Watson: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 6 Yards
Mecole Hardman: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards
Justyn Ross: 1 Target