For sports news sites such as this one it’s common to follow a sporting event, say the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football, and offer up a set number of “takeaways” – observations on the game from an expert panel. That number, usually, is set somewhere around five. It’s a nice clean number that fans can digest.
Well, Denver and Kansas City provided five HUGE takeaways and each of them belonged to the Broncos defense.
On the night, Denver forced five turnovers, none more important that the game-clinching strip and fumble recovery for a touchdown in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter.
But if there was one overriding “takeaway” from this game, it was that Denver’s defense is shaping up to be one of the most-aggressive and game-changing defenses the AFC has seen in quite some time.
Throughout the night, the team at Mile High Sports and members of the greater Denver media were in awe of the spectacular play of Wade Phillips’ defense. We gathered some of the best of the bunch for you here…
#Broncos pass rush looks like swarming bee's around a hive. They just get to the QB so quickly.
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) September 18, 2015
It's over for Alex. . . He just imploded. . . #ToldYou
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) September 18, 2015
Alex Smith seems scared. Can't imagine why.
— Daniel Mohrmann (@DanMohrmann) September 18, 2015
Two games, two INTs for Talib
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) September 18, 2015
How about that defense!!!! Turnover #3. Talib!!!
— Rod Mackey (@RodMackeySports) September 18, 2015
Why did the Chiefs come out throwing on that series? So dumb. Broncos will take it.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) September 18, 2015
And then Chris Harris makes THE PLAY to end the drive. That's why he's the best
— Spano (@BrandonSpano) September 18, 2015
Von Miller getting to the quarterback quick. Alex Smith looked like first quarter Peyton Manning.
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) September 18, 2015
DeMarcus Ware does it again — not a sack but he trips up Alex Smith to get the three-and-out.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) September 18, 2015
Alex Smith sacked on 3rd down. I would say who got him…but it was basically everyone. #DENvsKC
— cover32 Broncos (@cover32_DEN) September 18, 2015
3rd and 10 is when you really see the difference between Del Rio and Wade Phillips
— Dan Fellman (@dfellman) September 18, 2015
FOUR turnovers in a night they've been "outplayed"… Broncos defense is unreal.
— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) September 18, 2015
I feel for this #Broncos defense. Has to be gassed and now they need to be hero again.
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) September 18, 2015
This Broncos defense flies around on every play, looking to make something happen. Didn't play for OT!
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) September 18, 2015