The Denver Broncos fell short 27-24 in Sunday’s road matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. After firing head coach Nathaniel Hackett earlier in the week, the Broncos competed hard against the Chiefs but fell short despite Russell Wilson and the offense changing the way they operate.
Denver Broncos lose 15th straight game vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Prior to Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos interim head coach Jerry Rosburg had a stern message for everyone around Broncos Country, “Watch Sunday’s game.” Denver’s interim head coach has his fingerprints all over the operation in the final two weeks of the season.
For Denver, Rosburg initiated the change prior to kickoff that Justin Outten would be calling plays for the Broncos offense, a move that demoted Klint Kubiak who was promoted to play-caller various weeks ago. Sunday’s game against the Chiefs was Outten’s first time ever calling plays in an NFL regular season game and the move proved to be more fruitful than most anticipated.
To start, it was more of the same for Denver as the offense couldn’t pick up a first down on their opening drive of the game, resulting in a quick three and out. It’s worth noting that Albert Okwuegbunam got the start for Denver at tight end after the team placed Greg Dulcich on season-ending injured reserve earlier this week.
Despite pitting the Chiefs into a 4th and 1 situation, Mahomes and the Kansas City offense converted with a 10-yard catch and run by Travis Kelce against the Broncos’ defense. Denver’s defense then allowed Isiah Pacheco to punch it in to cap off a 10-play 65-yard drive that gave Kansas City an early 6-0 lead.
Wilson and the Broncos’ offense attempted to get creative with various new looks and formations on their second drive, generating one first down before stalling out due to a holding call of left tackle Cam Fleming. Nothing new for the Denver offense as it resulted in yet another punt. New coach, but the same offensive production early on.
Denver’s defense aligned to prevent explosive downfield plays by Kansas City, forcing the Chiefs and Mahomes to emphasize the short to intermediate game. Pressure by the Broncos forced Mahomes to dump it off short on third down, allowing the defense to close in tightly leading to the Chiefs’ first punt of the game with a 6-0 lead.
The Broncos’ offense looked different from a schematic standpoint, with Outten incorporating several two-back sets, with a gameplan set around playing to the strengths of Russell Wilson. On their third offensive possession, Denver trimmed the Chiefs’ lead to 6-3 after Brandon McManus capped off a 14-play 49-yard drive that saw the Broncos develop some rhythm on a methodical drive before failing to convert on a 3rd and 7.
Trailing 6-3, the Broncos defense took the field once again to try and limit Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. After several magical plays by Mahomes and Kelce, Denver’s defense came up with a huge play in the red zone. On 3rd and goal, Patrick Mahomes extended to his left and tried to force a pass to Justin Watson, but Justin Simmons jumped in front of the pass and picked it off to give the Broncos possession.
https://twitter.com/CodyRoarkNFL/status/1609624303422828544?s=20&t=Wp2fZjvyByKy4-PhtyBotg
Simmons’ interception marked a new career high in a season for him with six on the season.
This angle of @jsimms1119's interception 👀
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/YdkqChCTcN
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 1, 2023
Unfortunately, the Broncos offense couldn’t capitalize on the defense’s takeaway, being forced to punt the ball away. However, Denver’s special teams unit came up with another takeaway after Alex Singleton forced Kadarius Toney to fumble the football, which was recovered by Eric Saubert.
One play later, Russell Wilson cooked off the left side on a 16-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper that was set up by key blocks from Cam Fleming, Courtland Sutton, and Saubert who had recovered the Chiefs’ fumble on the play prior, giving the Broncos a 10-6 lead on the road.
VINTAGE RUSSELL WILSON pic.twitter.com/zMaS9JtwwE
— Myck Miller (@MyckMiller) January 1, 2023
The Chiefs responded in a big way against the Broncos, attacking Denver downfield across the middle on several chunk plays. Mahomes and the KC offense capitalized against an aggressive blitz by the Broncos, finding Jerrick McKinnon wide-open for a walk-in touchdown underneath to regain a 13-10 lead over Denver.
With one minute remaining before halftime, the Broncos offense looked to generate points before intermission. On 3rd and 9, Wilson connected up the middle seam with running back Chase Edmonds who took it 27 yards upfield before being brought down. Wilson then connected with Courtland Sutton for 11 yards, putting the Broncos in field goal range. However, disaster struck as a Chiefs’ stunt from cornerback Trent McDuffie, who came untouched stripped Wilson of the ball allowing Kansas City to recover and take over possession.
Fortunately for Denver, they blocked Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s field goal attempt at the end of halftime, preserving their 13-10 lead over the Broncos at halftime.
Russell Wilson, Broncos strike back in third quarter vs. Kansas City
Denver’s defense was back on the field to open up the second half against Mahomes and the Chiefs. The Broncos were able to force Mahomes off the field, forcing a quick three-and-out. One thing interim head coach Jerry Rosburg mentioned coming out of halftime was that the offensive line needed to give Russell Wilson more time in the pocket than they did in the first half.
After moving near midfield, a holding call backed Denver’s offense into a long-field situation where they were unable to recover, having to punt the ball right back to Kansas City. Fortunately, the Broncos’ defense held firm against Mahomes, forcing back-to-back three-and-outs for the Chiefs.
Denver’s offense took advantage of their defense getting a stop as Russell Wilson and the offense marched downfield behind a Latavius Murray 19-yard scamper. Several plays later, Wilson executed a play-action fake and found Albert Okwuegbunam wide open for a 25-yard touchdown catch to give Denver a 17-13 lead midway through the third quarter.
Once again, the Broncos’ defense came up big against the Chiefs, forcing a third consecutive three-and-out. In what was perhaps a huge moment for this game, with the potential to change the landscape of it for Denver, Courtland Sutton hauled in a massive catch downfield on 2nd down for 44 yards but was called for offensive pass interference, leading to a 3rd and 19 situation they couldn’t capitalize on.
Denver punted it away back to Kansas City who began to orchestrate a drive downfield that brought them deep into Broncos’ territory as the third quarter came to an end. Could the Broncos find some fourth-quarter magic?
Chiefs respond, Broncos fight back in fourth quarter but fall short
On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Chiefs struck quickly with Mahomes finding tight end Blake Bell for a quick score to give Kansas City a 20-17 lead with over 14:50 left. After being on the receiving end of a game-changing penalty on their last drive, could Denver’s offense and Russell Wilson rally?
The old Broncos offense knocked on the door for Denver as Wilson was intercepted by L’Jarius Sneed on the first play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter, setting up a return that put Kansas City in red zone territory. Several plays later, Mahomes found McKinnon for his second receiving touchdown of the game to put the Chiefs up 27-17.
Wilson and the Broncos offense had another chance to cut into the Chiefs’ lead and they did just that. After an illegal hands to the face penalty on the Chiefs negated what would have been another Wilson interception, Denver marched downfield on a 12-play 74-yard drive capped off by Denver’s highly criticized quarterback rushing for his second touchdown of the afternoon to trim the Chiefs lead to 27-24 with just about 6:15 remaining in the game.
The Broncos defense once again came up big, forcing an incomplete pass on 3rd and 8, forcing Kansas City to punt for their fifth time of the day. Russell Wilson and the Denver offense would have a shot to take the lead or tie the game on their ensuing possession. Everything came down to this drive.
Facing a 4th and 2, the Chiefs brought pressure with a nickel blitz and an interior stunt to pressure Wilson who was wrapped up and tried to force the ball to Latavius Murray who was unable to corral the pass, resulting in a turnover on downs. Kansas City converted on 3rd and 5 to pick up a first down, allowing the Chiefs to kneel out for the remainder of the game.
The Broncos drop to 4-12 on the season as they look to close out the regular season next week with a win against the Los Angeles Chargers at home.
Denver Broncos news and notes vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Broncos injury report.
Broncos rookie cornerback Damarri Mathis suffered a concussion during the second quarter in Sunday’s win/loss against the Chiefs. He was quickly ruled out and will now have to go through the NFL’s concussion protocol this week, putting his status for Sunday’s finale against the Los Angeles Chargers in question. Practice squad cornerback Lamar Jackson, who was elevated prior to the game, filled in for Mathis for the remainder of Sunday’s game. Offensive guard Dalton Risner exited the game in the third quarter with an elbow injury and did not return, leading to Quinn Bailey stepping in for him on the line.
Simmons snags 27th career interception
In Sunday’s loss/win to Kansas City, Justin Simmons snagged his 6th interception of the season and the 27th of his career, moving him into 8th all-time in team history.