Chiefs-Broncos Week 6 Thursday Night Football: 9 winners and 3 losers

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs moved to 5-1 on the season with a prime-time win over their one-time rival, the Denver Broncos. It wasn’t the blowout that we anticipated, however it additionally appeared just like the Chiefs had been 100% accountable for this recreation from starting to finish, and so they might have even have been toying with the Broncos with some whimsical playcalling.

Listed below are a number of who stood out on Thursday night time:

Winners

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Tight finish Travis Kelce: If you see Travis Kelce not solely get open downfield and make a catch but in addition pitch to Noah Grey for a primary down, you already know we’re in for a present. Kelce lived as much as his moniker of actually being “at all times open,” main the group (as common) with 9 targets, 9 catches and 124 yards. He’s clearly not distracted by one of many largest celebrities on the planet watching — the Chiefs are nonetheless undefeated with Taylor Swift in attendance.

Extensive receiver Rashee Rice: The 4 catches for 72 yards represented a stable day. The 28-yard performs confirmed what Rashe Rice can do working after the catch. Maybe probably the most thrilling a part of Rashee Rice’s recreation towards the Broncos was the effectivity. He caught every of his 4 targets, avoiding the one drop per recreation we had come to count on. The rookie is getting higher each week and will proceed to be a cornerstone of this offense going ahead.

Operating again Isiah Pacheco: Isiah Pacheco was his common energetic, bodily presence within the working recreation this week, with 62 yards on the bottom. However he additionally confirmed off his pass-catching/screen-play potential with six receptions and 36 yards via the air. He’s turning into an every-down again, a balanced a part of an entire offense.

EDGE George Karlaftis: George Karlaftis was energetic early and sometimes towards the Broncos, making life troublesome on an already struggling offense. The “Greek Freak” had two batted passes to go together with a sack he shared with Malik Herring.

Kicker Harrison Butker: Like a pitcher on an ideal recreation, we’re all scared to jinx Harrison Butker, however he’s been glorious this season. Not solely did he stay good on each area objectives and additional factors however — standing on the painted arrowhead at midfield — he additionally simply hit a 60-yard kick to enter halftime. Butker is on an absolute heater proper now.

Defensive lineman Chris Jones: That is changing into a weekly factor for Chris Jones… but one other sack and three quarterback hits in an impactful recreation. He even made an enormous play towards the run. Sooner or later, we’ll must cease calling him out on this article, as a result of if you do it each single week, it turns into the norm.

Security Justin Reid: On fourth down within the first drive of the sport, Justin Reid ran Russel Wilson out of bounds to complete a play and a drive the place it appeared like he would possibly escape. It wouldn’t be the one influence play from the Chiefs’ veteran security, as he picked up his first interception of the season on a deflection.

Linebacker Willie Homosexual Jr.: On an evening when Nick Bolton had an interception, it was his counterpart who appeared to face out on a constant foundation. Willie Homosexual Jr. recovered a fumble to assist shut this one out and deflected the move that Reid picked off.

Linebacker Drue Tranquill: There was one more linebacker who stood out this week, so maybe we must always name it a gaggle of winners. Drue Tranquill proved he can nonetheless be an influence participant, even when Bolton is within the lineup. Within the first half, he knifed via the offense for a drive-ending tackle-for-loss. Then, he notched a sack as properly. With Leo Chenal additionally making performs, this linebacker unit appears to be like completely loaded.

Losers

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Returner Montrell Washington: When the Chiefs introduced within the return specialist, they had been hoping for reliability. Though they weren’t expensive on this present day, Motrell Washington had two fumbles — one went out of bounds, the opposite was a muffed punt he recovered. Not very best.

Proper sort out Jawaan Taylor: He once more had a expensive penalty, which is changing into a horrible pattern. Taylor additionally appeared to fully miss or ignore Zach Allen as he flew untouched into Mahomes for a fourth-quarter sack. The Chiefs would accept one more area purpose in consequence. These are the varieties of errors that lead a recreation to be a lot nearer than it ought to have been.

The Chiefs’ short-yardage offense: From the failed fake-field-goal sneak to the direct snap to Kadarius Toney leading to a loss, this group continues to be a large number after they attempt to acquire two yards or much less. Positive, they had been making an attempt some uncommon playcalls this week, maybe as a result of they knew the Broncos weren’t a risk, however it’s nonetheless regarding that with the league’s greatest inside offensive line and the opposite expertise on offense the Chiefs can’t appear to transform on third or fourth-and-short.

Be aware: Making use of the labels “winners” and “losers” will not be supposed to be a judgment on the expertise or character of any of those gamers. It’s only a easy technique to grade their efficiency in a single recreation. No disrespect is meant.