Chiefs-Broncos: 5 winners, 3 losers in Kansas City’s Week 14 win

The Kansas City Chiefs have been almost flawless throughout their Week 14 highway recreation in opposition to the Denver Broncos — till they weren’t.

After the Chiefs constructed up a 27-0 lead within the second quarter, some of us (not naming any names, ahem) have been getting ready for Chad Henne to take over as Kansas Metropolis coasted to victory.

Alas, a few of the identical issues which have not too long ago plagued the staff — turnovers, missed tackles, poor cross safety— as soon as once more reared their ugly heads. Fueled by Chiefs errors, the Broncos got here charging again — and made a recreation out of it.

On the finish of the day, the Chiefs made sufficient performs to win 34-28. Hopefully, we by no means converse of this matchup once more. However whereas we’re nonetheless speaking about it, listed below are some Chiefs who stood out.

Notice: Making use of the labels “winners” and “losers” just isn’t meant to be a judgment on the expertise or character of any of those gamers. It’s only a easy solution to grade their efficiency in a single recreation. No disrespect is meant.

Winners

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Working again Jerick McKinnon: The veteran was simply the staff’s main receiver after scoring on a highlight-reel 56-yard no-look cross-body cross. The display recreation was a key in opposition to Denver cross rush — and McKinnon delivered, working decisively and ending with authority. He was additionally given the duty of serving to to shut out the sport — which didn’t assist his speeding stats — however catching seven passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns represented an outstanding day for McKinnon.

Working again Isiah Pacheco: On the two-minute warning on Kansas Metropolis’s remaining drive, the staff wanted a primary right down to salt the sport away. They turned to their new bell-cow again, who successfully ended the sport by ripping a 10-yard run up the center on a second-and-10. Displaying his burst by means of the opening — and in addition his toughness and willpower — he ran over three Broncos defenders, refusing to be denied his likelihood on the first down. It was an ideal exclamation level for his efficiency, which included 13 carries for 70 yards and one other 23 yards on three catches. He’s displaying that if there’s such a factor as a rookie wall, he’d break by means of it on his solution to one other first down — after which dash again to the huddle.

Linebacker Willie Homosexual, Jr.: In opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals, we lamented that no person on the protection appeared to step up and make a giant play when the Chiefs wanted one. However on Sunday, Homosexual took issues into his personal fingers. Sniffing out a fourth-and-1 play, Homosexual deflected the cross to himself, stiff-armed the quarterback and took it to the home — giving his staff what ought to have been an insurmountable 27-0 lead.

#Sacknation: Kansas Metropolis’s cross rush had a really productive day. On most days, getting six sacks and 11 quarterback hits will result in a dominant defensive efficiency. Edge rushers Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Mike Danna and Frank Clark all had a sack. Juan Thornhill had one other on a blitz — and even Darius Harris obtained into the motion by sharing a sack with newcomer Brandon Williams. The cross rush was additionally clutch: Jones helped shut out the sport with successful that triggered the interception ending Denver’s remaining drive. Whatever the competitors, this ought to be a confidence-inspiring recreation for the cross rush.

Tommy Townsend: You by no means need the staff’s punter to be busy — and even seen that always. Townsend punted thrice in opposition to Denver, however every was a booming kick — together with a 76-yarder that was the longest of his profession. Flipping the sector could be essential in pinning an offense again, limiting its choices and making use of stress. In truth, every of those punts resulted in a drive the place Denver was compelled to punt. The online distance gained in these three drives? One yard.

Losers

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Quarterback Patrick Mahomes: We will’t overreact. Mahomes is nonetheless the perfect participant within the recreation and the MVP. He added one landing to his Canton spotlight reel with that flip to McKinnon — together with one other magnificence to JuJu Smith-Schuster the place he ran round in a circle to keep away from stress after which threw whereas being hit. He ended the day with 352 yards passing and three touchdowns, which is a very stable day — if it wasn’t for the different factor that occurred thrice. Mahomes was intercepted on an ideal play by linebacker Josey Jewell when the Chiefs have been forward 27-0, sparking the start of Denver’s comeback. He threw one other first-half decide that led to a different Broncos rating. Then — with beneath six minutes left within the recreation (and a six-point lead) — Mahomes managed to throw one other decide to Jewell. Fortunately, Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed teamed as much as shortly get the ball again to the offense. Mahomes’ three picks created the one hope Denver had within the recreation. Had the Chiefs misplaced, these interceptions would have erased the great performs he made. Anytime you flip the ball over thrice, you place your staff vulnerable to shedding — and subsequently belong on this record.

Fullback Michael Burton: The fullback run on quick yardage is nonetheless useless. Head coach Andy Reid tried to drag it out in a key spot within the fourth quarter, but it surely led to a three-and-out.

Cornerback Trent McDuffie: There have been loads of protection snaps the place the Broncos quarterbacks needed nothing to do with focusing on Trent McDuffie. However the performs most of us will keep in mind began with a simple interception that hit McDuffie in his facemask. Then there was a landing to Jerry Jeudy on blown protection the place it appeared like McDuffie was out of place — or anticipating another person to take the receiver. Then there was a fourth-down cross interference name — questionable because it was — the place McDuffie was slightly sluggish to get his head round. It ought to have been a turnover on downs — however as an alternative, it was a 40-yard achieve that arrange a landing that made the sport shut. There actually isn’t any motive to fret about McDuffie — at the same time as a first-rounder, he’s nonetheless a rookie — however on today, there have been large performs that didn’t go his manner.