Throughout the entire 2018-19 season, BSN Denver will be giving you game grades from every Denver Broncos contest. Evaluating all the starters and beyond to give you a better look at the team’s strengths and weaknesses on a game-to-game basis.

With the season on the line, the Broncos weren’t sharp enough in their 30-23 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Some of the best performances came from rookies and some notable backups, who saw more action due to injuries at their position. 

Standouts from the game

Phillip Lindsay: A

• Lindsay was strong, a reliable force on offense who exploded outside for constant chunk plays and punished defenders inside, even injuring linebacker Anthony Hitchens as he lowered his shoulder to finish a run up the middle.
• Could’ve had an even bigger game than his 112 all-purpose yards, with a couple big runs getting nullified by penalties on the O-line.
• Was a killer in space, getting crucial gains on a toss and an option run.
• Leaned on more than usual, he found continuity and was impressive as he just rattled off one positive run after another.

Shaquil Barrett: A

• Barrett was extraordinary; creating two QB hurries and one QB hit while playing strong run defense, making a great play in coverage, and even balling out on special teams.
• Winning inside, he forced Mahomes out the pocket for an incompletion and then hit the QB again after beating Eric Fisher off the edge to force another errant pass.
• Was extraordinary covering Kareem Hunt to the flats, holding him to a one-yard gain and reading the play masterfully.
• Created penetration against the run for a TFL as well and drew a holding penalty on Chiefs LG Cameron Erving.
• His only negative play came on a roughing the passer penalty.

Bradley Chubb: B+

• Chubb started off hot, creating pressure off the edge that resulted in an incompletion and then containing Mahomes on an RPO run which he closed down for a TFL.
• He kept the pressure on for most of the game, hurrying the QB off his spot four times, playing relentlessly off the edge and giving Fisher all he could handle, eventually burning the LT for a half sack.
• Won inside, too, creating penetration and flushing Mahomes off his spot for a big 3rd-and-8 incompletion.
• Aside from not turning his hurries into sacks, Chubb was flagged twice, once on a false start and another time for hands to the face. 

Devontae Booker: A

• Booker ran the ball really well, was sudden off the line and showed great burst.
• Went over 100 all-purpose yards despite only touching the ball 13 times.
• Didn’t break any huge runs but rattled off several substantial gains that proved to be key in getting back to manageable down-and-distance or converting third downs.

Defense

Domata Peko: B

• Peko set the tone early, plugging the opening run and holding the Chiefs to two yards.
• Created good push to help stop runs up the middle and was sound tackling Hunt when the RB ran through his gaps.
• Even got a hit on Mahomes on his interception pass, a crucial play.

Derek Wolfe: B

• Wolfe was flagged for being offsides, which hurt in a game that was riddled with penalties for Denver.
• Made up for it with a beastly run stuff on Hunt, standing up his blocker and just slamming the RB down like a rag doll.
• Played a strong game against the KC ground game, clogging gaps and creating two run stuffs.

Adam Gotsis: D

• Appearing in a season-low 34.5 percent of the snaps, Gotsis was unable to have any discernible impact on the game, good or bad. 

Josey Jewell: C+

• In his first career start, Jewell was steady, playing much more consistently in coverage than Todd Davis while also playing sound run defense.
• Did a good job playing up close to the line, clogging a lane and forcing a run stuff in KC’s opening drive—a three-and-out.
• Made a solid tackle in coverage, holding the WR to a five-yard gain, and was sound tackling against the run, as well.
• On further review, it appears he was the underneath defender that didn’t pick up Sammy Watkins on his red zone crosser where the Chiefs WR scored an easy touchdown.

Todd Davis: C-

• Davis looked lost in coverage early on, completely losing track of receivers, leaving both Hunt and Travis Kelce wide open to the sideline—Hunt should’ve had a TD if the pass wasn’t off and late forcing him out of bounds.
• Kelce especially gave him trouble and then Watkins annihilated him in the red zone, scoring a TD with Davis isolated on him in the slot. The LB never had a chance.
• Davis picked his game up significantly in the second half, playing really strong coverage on Hunt, and even forced an incompletion on a QB hurry up the middle.
• Ended the game getting targeted seven times for five receptions of 49 yards and the TD.
• Missed a tackle on Hunt on his backbreaking 4th-and-1 shovel pass run.

Von Miller: C+

• For some reason, the Chiefs just give Von issues, and though he did get a half sack, he was far from his best.
• Created some pressure off the edge but wasn’t winning out right off the snap, more chasing Mahomes down in pursuit.
• Did make a spectacular move on Mitchell Schwartz, bending under the blocker’s pads to flatten Mahomes for his one sack, but was just a bit absent otherwise.

Will Parks: C

• Parks played a strong game, especially early on where he locked down Kelce on a goal-line target and made a huge tackle on Hunt, running him all the way down the sideline.
• That didn’t last for long as he was burned by Kelce on 3rd-and-10 for 18 yards.
• Was hurdled by Hunt on his absurd 4th-and-1 TD.
• A mixed bag from Darian Stewart’s replacement.

Justin Simmons: C

• Simmons was leaned on as the last line of defense, and while he didn’t allow any bombs to go over the top of the defense, he wasn’t always perfect.
• Missed a tackle on Tyreek Hill in space allowing an even bigger gain on his 40-yard reception.
• No. 31 was one of the culprits on Hunt’s big TD, whiffing a tackle.
• Did a nice job making a tough grab on his interception and was solid tackling Hill in deep coverage, always keeping the speedster in front of him.

Chris Harris Jr.: B

• Harris allowed two big receptions to Kelce and then Hill in the early going but shut things down after that.
• Hill just burned him enough to win inside leverage on a deep-post where Harris had help over the top, conceding a 21-yard play that set the Chiefs up in the red zone.
• Was masterful tackling out on the perimeter; bringing Hill down in an instance on a quick screen, then tackling Mahomes in space and holding him to a one-yard gain.
• He also shut Hunt down on a one-yard run outside and tackled Watkins short of the sticks on a third-down reception after playing sticky coverage. 

Bradley Roby: F

• Roby was beat in coverage on a consistent basis; targeted eight times on seven receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. An ugly showing.
• Before even allowing a catch, Roby was penalized for pass interference on a pass over his head and was then flagged for hands to the face later on.
• Both Hill and Watkins beat him for big gains off the line, burning him with inside moves.
• Allowed a touchdown to Kelce playing way off, on a poor effort where he didn’t react to the ball at all.
• Made a couple nice tackles on Hunt outside including a great flying tackle on the RB on third-and-goal, stopping him just short of the end zone.

Other noteworthy defensive performances:

Tremaine Brock: B

• Brock was flagged for defensive holding while covering Hill, which led to a heated altercation between the two.
• Did a great job jumping the route in coverage on No. 10 and almost getting an interception.
• Was targeted twice without allowing a single reception.

Offense

Garett Bolles: F

• Bolles played a really strong game run blocking on outside runs to his side, getting out in space and doing damage, and was crucial on two separate big gains by Lindsay.
• His struggles in pass protection doomed him, conceding two sacks, including one forced fumble off a monstrous hit on the QB.
• Was also flagged for a false start and a hold on the aforementioned forced fumble sack.

Max Garcia: B

• Garcia made a couple extraordinary blocks on the move, one of which was a crucial pull block that allowed Booker to convert 3rd-and-2.
• Was strong run blocking all game—the Broncos had their best runs to his side—and played a clean game in pass protection too.
• By far the best performer on the O-line.
• His one major blemish came on a debatable holding penalty.

Matt Paradis: F

• The Broncos veteran center had arguably his worst game of the year, getting flagged for holding and allowing two run stops.
• Was absolutely blown up by a blitzing defender up the middle contributing to a big third-down sack.
• Subsequently was destroyed by Allen Bailey, who knocked him on his back for a sickening run stop.

Connor McGovern: F

• McGovern has started to really struggle, and his game was at times disastrous.
• Was penalized twice nullifying big runs, first for holding and then on an illegal block above the waist.
• Also allowed pressure up the middle which was inches away from becoming a fumble, though Keenum recovered and completed the pass on an impressive improvised play.
• Struggled run blocking as well, conceding a TFL and a run stop as he was overpowered up the middle.

Billy Turner: F

• The Chiefs middling group of pass rushers had a field day on Turner’s side, forcing three sacks off the starting right tackle for 21 yards, one of which resulted in a fumble.
• Dee Ford gave him nightmares with his speed and then Chris Jones completely burned him inside for a 3rd-and-9 sack.
• Runs to his side didn’t have much success either in a poor effort.

Emmanuel Sanders: C+

• Sanders started off with a bang making a huge catch deep in the second drive, completing a 49-yard play that set the Broncos up for their opening score.
• Was quiet after that and banged up after a big hit down the sideline.
• Couldn’t make a defender miss in the backfield getting tackled for a loss on a poorly executed 3rd-and-2 end around.

Demaryius Thomas: C-

• Thomas seemed to be in a rhythm early, catching three separate quick slants for 10 yards each time, getting open with ease.
• Nothing came after that, as his flea-flicker target resulting in Keenum’s lone interception was his only other “highlight” of the game.

Courtland Sutton: B+

• Sutton played a big game making the most of his four targets with three receptions for 78 yards.
• Made an incredible contested grab down the sideline for 42 yards during the two-minute drill before the half, a mesmerizing acrobatic showing of power and concentration.
• Also drew a holding penalty to convert third-and-long.

Jeff Heuerman: C-

• Targeted five times, several of which came in the red zone, Heuerman only had one grab; on a tough catch for a crucial fourth-down touchdown.
• Was only serviceable as a blocker and struggled to create separation in the passing game.

Case Keenum: B-

• Keenum played quick in the first half and was generally efficient, though he still couldn’t avoid turnovers in the game.
• The Broncos did their best to keep the ball out of the QBs hands in crucial moments, giving him only three third-down attempts—was 1-for-3 on the day, though he did score a TD on that one conversion and later had a fourth-down TD pass.
• Took his shots deep with two big completions to Sutton and Sanders, while he missed Thomas two inches too far outside and couldn’t connect with Heuerman on another tough deep ball.
• Executed the two-minute drive to end the half masterfully, taking what the defense gave him and scoring a TD on a five play drive with 54 seconds.
• Pressure killed him in this game, but his biggest mistake came on his interception throw, an inexplicable flea-flicker turnover brought on by poor ball placement.
• Struggled mightily in the second half and couldn’t mount a comeback effort with increased pressure from the Chiefs front.

Other noteworthy offensive performances:

Andy Janovich: B-

• Jano did a great job run blocking early, seeing more snaps as the Broncos have begun to use more two-back sets, and fewer two tight end looks.
• Was spectacular getting out in space on a toss for Booker and opening up a huge lane by laying out his defender in the open field.
• Wasn’t always perfect, getting blown up and allowing a run stop, but had a strong game none the less.

Matt LaCosse: C-

• LaCosse was utilized more in the passing game, hauling in four catches for consistent five-to-eight yard gains.
• Missed a key block on Sanders’ 3rd-and-2 end around run, resulting in a TFL.

Tim Patrick: B+

• Only touching the ball twice, Patrick had a huge impact, scoring a touchdown to end the half and getting loose on a nice reverse run that went for 13 yards.

Special Teams: D

Early in the game, the coverage team on kicks allowed consecutive big returns, first on a punt return by Hill and then on a 33-yard kick-off return.

Colby Wadman had a great punt, pinning the Chiefs in their own 10 as Hill had a return of -2 yards—in part thanks to a great open field tackle by Barrett. The rest of his game was nothing special on four punts.

Brandon McManus missed a huge 55-yard field goal that really killed the Broncos momentum—the kicking unit wasn’t prepared on that kick either, forcing Denver to call a timeout.

Special teams did nothing positive and had some pretty noteworthy mistakes, a poor showing.

Coaching: C-

Bill Musgrave’s play calling early was extremely balanced, and the running game played well as a result. Had a great play call on 3rd-and-1 with an option run that gave the Chiefs a taste of their own medicine.

He tried his hardest to lessen the load of responsibility on Keenum in the game.

Joe Woods was outsmarted on the first two touchdowns; giving Kelce a free release in the red zone which resulted in a comically easy score and then on Watkins’ first TD where Davis was isolated on the WR. The inability to adjust in the second half killed Woods and the ‘D’.

Vance Joseph has to bare some of the blame as penalties from the O-line killed the offense in the second half, and the team continues to lack discipline. Second half adjustments, or the lack thereof, doomed the Broncos and might ultimately be Joseph’s demise.