Mile High Sports

Offense a joke as Broncos and Chiefs underwhelm in first half

The NFL flexed the Week 12 matchup between the Broncos and Chiefs into primetime because it pitted a pair of 7-3 division rivals fighting for a playoff spot. They probably didn’t expect a first half that had nearly as many punts (10) as first downs (12). Offense, for both teams, was virtually nowhere to be found and nine of the 12 points in the half were scored by the Kansas City defense and special teams.

For a league battling the perception that its game is becoming unwatchable, this one hasn’t helped. And the media is already pouncing on just how poor the NFL’s marquee Week 12 matchup has played out.

The Broncos accounted for just 38 yards of offense in the first quarter. They ended the half with 124.

The two teams failed to generate 100 yards on offense combined in the first quarter. Kansas City ran 25 total plays for just 49 yards in the half.

The teams punted five times in the first quarter and on eight consecutive drives to start the game.

It’s only fitting that the first score of the game was a safety. And it was a sign of just how poorly the Denver offense was executing. A Jordan Norwood muffed punt gave the Broncos the ball inside their own 10-yard line and Justin Houston turned his third sack of the night into two points for the Chiefs.

Denver’s special teams failed them again on the ensuing free kick when Tyreek Hill took Riley Dixon‘s effort 86 yards for a score to give Kansas City a 9-0 lead.

Trevor Siemian and the Broncos responded with a 10-play, 60-yard field goal drive to bring the game within a score. Denver’s success on offense came mostly due to the fact that Houston was on the sidelines receiving medical attention. He would go into the locker room for evaluation on a shoulder injury, but returned before the half ended.

Von Miller ended the half with a pair of sacks to force another Kansas City punt and give Denver the ball, but, to no surprise, Denver had to punt it away again. Kansas City mercifully took a knee to take a 9-3 lead into the locker room.

There was little positive to say about the offenses in the first half. Here’s a few of the barbs that were flying during the first half from the team at Mile High Sports and some of our favorite follows on Twitter.

ON THE DENVER OFFENSE…

ON THE KANSAS CITY OFFENSE…

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