Shelby Harris was without a doubt the player of the game for the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.
Harris was a superstar for the Denver defense, a real game-changer when the team needed him the most.
And, while he’s not a loud and needy player in terms of attention, Harris deserves your attention on every play. You might not have noticed he was out for weeks, but if you’re a Broncos fan, you knew he was back tonight.
Early on, Harris realized he wasn’t going to sack Patrick Mahomes and dropped back a few yards, then timed his jump perfectly to bat down the reigning MVP’s pass. Not only was it a good play, it came on a third down and on the replay, one could see the pass was going to an open Travis Kelce for a first down.
That first bat-down ended Kansas City’s drive and held them to a field goal. It also set the tone for the game, as the Chiefs were held to four straight field goals.
This isn’t your ordinary NFL team; the Chiefs may have the most explosive offense in the history of the game. With Mahomes — who makes everything look effortless — the most-explosive player in the NFL Tyreek Hill, sensational tight end Travis Kelce, Le’Veon Bell, Sammy Watkins and the list goes on.
Simply, holding the Chiefs to four straight field goals was an almost unmatchable feat for the Broncos. It was a perfect-case scenario for winning in K.C.
Harris, the clear standout star of the game for Denver, had a second defensed pass when the Chiefs had the ball with time running out before the half. On second down, Mahomes looked to pass to the end zone but there was Harris, jumping in the air and knocking the ball down again, holding the home team to another field goal.
It was 10-9 Broncos at halftime in Kansas City against the most explosive offense in the world and the reigning Super Bowl champions. That’s a best-case scenario for a young, bad team.
In the second half though, the defense kept fighting. And Shelby Harris kept fighting too.
No. 96 had a solid tackle on a one-yard run by Mahomes on a second down in the third quarter. After driving into the Broncos 10 yard line, Harris tackled the stellar quarterback on a scramble up the middle. On the next play, Jeremiah Attoachu sacked Mahomes and held the Chiefs to yet another field goal. Their fourth straight.
Then, in the fourth quarter, Mahomes uncorked one deep when Denver sent a blitz and the superstar connected with the other superstar (Hill) for a touchdown. Only for Hill to stand there for five seconds and backflip into the end zone. Oh, whoops. Harris was held and the touchdown was called back.
Harris affected the game all the way through. In every, single quarter. He was a quiet presence. A superstar who the announcers don’t scream for when he makes the special plays.
When he tested positive with COVID-19 a month ago, he was forced to sit out. Finally, after four weeks away from the game, the Broncos got back one of their most crucial interior defenders.
Don’t forget, the Broncos are currently without Jurrell Casey — a strong offseason addition — and Mike Purcell, who PFF graded as the No. 1 run-stuffing inside defender in 2019.
But Harris was able to come back unlike the other two studs sidelined due to injury. And now we remember why he was so missed.
Harris has led the NFL in defended passes at the line of scrimmage the last two years, and now he added two more tonight.
While the Broncos lost 22-16, it could’ve been much uglier from a Denver perspective without Harris in the game tonight.