Broncos Fall to Chiefs, 19-8: The Good, Bad & Ugly
In an agonizing 19-8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos looked less like an NFL team and more like a ship adrift in turbulent waters. With a woeful 1-5 record, Sunday's display was especially harsh for Broncos fans as the defense seemed to be the only group that remembered why they boarded the flight to Kansas City.
It was akin to watching a dingy transverse an ocean with only one oar, with the defense doing all the work while the offense sputtered and stalled. As Sean Payton faces scrutiny, one must wonder where the supposed offensive genius went awry.
The postmortem continues on Denver's Week 6 loss to the Chiefs — its 16th straight dating back to 2015 — with a look back at the good, bad, and ugly.
The Good
Vance Joseph's Defense
Defying every expectation, the Broncos defense showed glimpses of brilliance, especially under the much-criticized Joseph. Holding the Chiefs — yes, the Chiefs — to under 20 points and just one touchdown was unthinkable on the heels of Denver's historically bad defensive start to this season.
Despite passing for 306 yards, Patrick Mahomes was rendered relatively ordinary, limited to short, uneventful plays, though he was able to move the chains. The Broncos' defensive front, often criticized for being timid, rose like a phoenix, especially in the red zone, where the Chiefs scored a touchdown on just 1-of-5 possessions.
Zach Allen, Nik Bonitto, and Jonathon Cooper channeled their inner Superman, disrupting plays and making Mahomes work for every yard.
The Bad
Sean Payton's Offense
Oh, the offense... Imagine a rusted old car that's become a permanent lawn ornament — that's a good way to describe the Broncos' offensive performance. The strategy was more about avoiding disaster than seeking victory.
Overcautious play-calling, receivers like Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, couldn't shake coverage and get open, and a seemingly muted Russell Wilson managed only 95 passing yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and was sacked four times, which made for a disheartening spectacle. The beleaguered quarterback had more tipped passes than meaningful completions.
Payton's play calling lacked confidence, imagination, and the ability to take advantage of players' athletic abilities. The underutilization of dynamic rookies Jaleel McLaughlin and Marvin Mims Jr is a problematic question only Coach Payton can answer.
Payton allowed Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to shape the Broncos' offense into a shell of itself. Denver finished with just 197 total yards, converting just 4-of-10 third-down attempts, and turning it over three times.
The Ugly
Organizational Decay
The cultural rot is evident as the Broncos undertake an ongoing clearance sale, offloading talents like veteran rush linebackers Randy Gregory and Frank Clark. The Broncos' roster has quickly turned into the NFL's discount aisle.
The just-getting-started fire sale may net the Broncos some draft capital, but the on-field talent depletion is likely to leave a gaping hole in the team's performance. The Broncos' current trajectory is a stark reminder that success in the NFL isn't merely about splashing cash.
It's about having the right talent on the field, a rock star coaching staff on the sidelines, and ensuring everyone in the organization is on the bus and in the right seat. The Walton-Penner ownership group, likely as shocked as the rest of Broncos Country, must recognize that the team has deep-rooted problems, and getting back to relevancy will require perseverance and... patience.
That's not what a long-suffering Broncos Country wanted to hear six weeks into the 2023 campaign after seven straight playoff-less seasons.
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