At home, for their final game of the season, the Broncos lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24. With the result seemingly meaningless this Sunday saw several new faces on the field as some young guys got ample playing time. For one last time this season we break it all down for you.
Standouts from the game:
Paxton Lynch: C+
Lynch was far from perfect with his two interceptions standing out as extremely costly losing errors. Particularly his second pick in the end zone on a pass behind Isaiah McKenzie was lacking the necessary RPM’s to get through.
That said, Paxton played one of his cleaner games showing more in tune decision making than we’ve seen in the past.
He got going with his feet, showing the type of mobility and playmaking skills on the fly that we’ve been waiting to see in a real game. The best of which was his gutsy 3rd-and-1 run juking a couple different defenders on his way to cross the sticks for the first down.
In a showcase type game for the young QB, he probably settled for a few too many check downs and didn’t show enough consistent accuracy on deep balls, getting bailed out by Jordan Taylor at least once.
There was lots to like though as Lynch looked more comfortable than he has all season.
Garett Bolles: A
No penalties, no sacks allowed and truly minimal pressure conceded in pass protection overall. All that adds up to Bolles’ having the best outing of his young career.
He did a nice job in run blocking throughout the game. He also had the chance to flash his athleticism getting out in space on a bubble screen setting up shop and doing a fine job blocking downfield.
When Denver ran it to his side, he created consistent push and while he was a bit late to anchor in pass pro, he was solid from start to finish. Regardless of the quality of competition, this was a good performance for the rookie to build off of for the future.
Connor McGovern: C+
McGovern continued his impressive play, making a real case for himself to start in the future. His best play was when he got out on the move, delivering a big block on De’Angelo Henderson’s touchdown screen. In short-yardage situations, he was fairly dominant in creating an easy push to run behind. He was especially impressive on a pull block on 2nd-and-3 in the second half opening up a big hole for C.J. Anderson.
In pass protection, he had a few issues despite a mostly consistent game, allowing a 3rd-and-6 sack at the end of the third quarter. He also was guilty of letting pressure through down in the red zone for another sack.
Far from perfect, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better run blocker on this line all year.
Brendan Langley: D+
Langley wasn’t listed as the starter but appeared in 69 percent of the defensive snaps. He did not look good, missing several tackles and playing too shallow in coverage allowing a few easy gains.
He did make an aggressive play down the sideline closing on the ball in a hurry to force an incompletion early on. That aggressiveness hurt him later though and he was bailed out by at least one errant throw when he would’ve otherwise been beaten in coverage.
A fitting final conclusion to a disappointing rookie year.
Defense
Domata Peko: C
Peko only appeared in 36 percent of snaps and still looked slowed down by his injury. He created penetration on 2nd-and-1 down in the red zone but was unable to close on the play as Akeem Hunt got the first down. On 2nd-and-3 later on, Peko was thrown off his spot allowing a run up the gut in the third quarter. His strong presence up the middle was missing in this one.
Shelby Harris: B
Call him “Mr. Flash” because while he might not be a dominant presence up front (yet), he always has himself some flash plays and that was true against the Chiefs Sunday.
Harris burst through the line unleashing a nice shimmy and swim move to get after Patrick Mahomes for a big 3rd-and-18 sack early on, pinning the Chiefs back to punt out of their own end zone.
Down on the goal line, he broke through to make contact with Anthony Sherman but couldn’t bring him down before the runner spun his way into the end zone.
To finish things off he created another pressure on Mahomes on 3rd-and-9 to force an incompletion and punt.
Hopefully, the flashes can continue.
Adam Gotsis: C-
No. 99 appeared in less than half the defensive snaps and wasn’t very impactful, particularly against the pass where his ability to rush the quarterback was missing.
His run defense gave mixed results as he lost contain on Mahomes’ near-touchdown scramble down in the red zone where he barely stepped out of bounds. On 2nd-and-3 he was thrown off his spot allowing a run up the middle and then couldn’t get the stop on 3rd-and-4 on another tough Sherman run.
Gotsis did combine with Shaq Barrett to crash the edge and stop KC’s first run of the second half, but that’s not enough for one of the few regulars up-front all year.
Von Miller: A-
Von was also featured in less than 50 percent of the defensive snaps, though his presence was felt as he created consistent pressure when he was in.
Miller pressured Mahomes forcing an incompletion to start second half screaming off the edge and knocking the QB down. He didn’t have many more impact plays but was a presence when he was in with the Chiefs having few answers on how to slow him down.
Todd Davis: C-
Davis made the completely wrong read on Kareem Hunt’s touchdown run opening up a huge hole to give the Chiefs the early lead. He was also exposed in coverage losing Albert Wilson over the middle on a crosser for a crucial first down with less than a minute left in the game. A costly conversion.
He did have a nice close on the opening play of the second drive making a fine tackle in space. Davis also had a big touchdown-saving tackle on 1st-and-goal with 5 minutes left in the third.
Not his best outing with those two costly mistakes.
Brandon Marshall: C
Like Davis, Marshall missed Hunt in the hole, letting the running back slip through his hands on his way to the Chiefs first score. In zone coverage, Marshall lost Wilson towards the sideline for a wide-open big gainer at the end of the second quarter. Two poor plays that the veteran could’ve easily avoided.
Later on, he closed on Akeem Hunt running him down to the sideline to force him just short of the sticks on 3rd-and-short. He also had a good tackle down the sideline on a run to the right with just over a minute left.
In a down year, it was another inconsistent performance by the quarterback of the Broncos ‘D’.
Shaquil Barrett: B-
Barrett created pressure a couple times on Mahomes in the first half but couldn’t get there in time to close down the play.
He combined with Gotsis to crash the edge and stop KC’s first run of the second half. Shaq then created a good pressure crashing the edge, though he couldn’t get to Mahomes in time allowing a completion to the flats that was held one yard short of first down.
His best play was a tackle for a loss on 2nd-and-goal setting a strong edge to get the stop. A solid game though he probably missed too many plays.
Darian Stewart: C+
Stewart was the last line of defense on Hunt’s opening score and let him slip right through as he fell on his face.
Playing deep coverage, Stewart read and intercepted Mahomes on an overthrown deep ball to come up with a big interception, somewhat making up for the missed tackle from earlier.
No. 26 made a couple consecutive plays to start the second quarter, stuffing the run first and then making a play in coverage to come up to hold the receiver for a short gain.
Overall, he did much more good than bad but certain mistakes that have plagued him all year just aren’t acceptable from a veteran free safety.
Will Parks: C-
Parks played in 70 percent of snaps and was fairly disappointing. He was in perfect coverage on Demetrius Harris for the Chiefs first big gain of the game as the big receiver stretched over his head to make the tough contested grab. The safeties bigger mistake was not touching Harris while down who got up and ran for additional yardage.
No. 34 was later flagged for an illegal block in the back nullifying the Stewart interception return.
His best play was on a 3rd-and-14 blitz where he couldn’t bring down Mahomes as he completed a pass over the middle for the first down.
He was in the right spot most of the day but just missed most of the plays that came his way.
Chris Harris Jr.: N/A
Harris only appeared in 15 snaps all game, was tested once and played tight coverage on the Stewart interception, covering his man on a crosser as the ball sailed to the safety.
Aqib Talib: N/A
Talib appeared in only 10 snaps, helping out by coming up to tackle on an outside run. That was about all she wrote.
Other noteworthy defensive performances:
Marcus Rios lost Wilson over the middle allowing a far too easy completion on 3rd-and-8 then missed the tackle to compound things. Playing soft coverage down the sideline he allowed an easy completion for a first down in the third quarter as well. He then lost Sherman in the flats allowing a 10-yard completion in the red zone. A “D” type outing.
Demarcus Walker finally showed up getting pressure on Mahomes and coming through with his first sack of the season. He was also solid against the run where he had a few nice stops in the fourth quarter setting a strong edge.
His sack was very telling as it came lined up over guard where he beat his blocker with a quick swim move to create penetration and bring Mahomes down. Encouraging first signs of life. In limited time he deserves a B.
Offense
Max Garcia: D
Didn’t play a clean game, allowing penetration on the very first play, setting the tone for the rest of the contest.
He was overwhelmed by Chris Jones on Lynch’s strip sack leading to the Chiefs’ defensive touchdown which really cost the Broncos the game.
He did have a couple blocks out on the move for the ground game opening up some holes, but the inconsistencies and the big strip sack hurt him.
Matt Paradis: B
Paradis had a great block tossing his direct defender to the ground on 2nd-and-long midway through the first quarter. Only a short gainer but a dominant block. He was solid the rest of the day particularly in pass protection where he had very few issues.
Cyrus Kouandjio: C+
Kouandjio did pretty well early on, opening up a hole for a four-yard gain with 10 minutes left in the second quarter. His run blocking ability wasn’t spectacular but he got the job done and was fairly consistent, just not blowing people off their spots with regularity.
He did an okay job in pass protection particularly on a Lynch 14-yard completion to Bennie Fowler.
The new starter on the line allowed a costly sack on 1st-and-10 down in the red zone not giving the QB nearly enough time.
A pretty good outing for his debut.
C.J. Anderson: C-
Anderson had a ho-hum game without any truly eventful plays. He was solid, ran it with regularity and shot through holes when they were there. It’s his elusiveness and explosiveness that were lacking and it showed with his average of 3.4 yards per carry.
Demaryius Thomas: B
Thomas actually played a good amount for a regular starter in this one appearing in just over half the snaps. His game was a mixed bag as he couldn’t haul in a high pass on the very first play of the game, and he was also guilty of a bad drop on a crosser down in the red zone.
However, he made some nice plays too getting the offense going with a great route and grab up the seam for Broncos’ first big gain vertically. He also did a fine job on a bubble screen to take the ball for a nice gain off a slightly high pass he had to reach out to get.
Finally, he got the touchdown on a solid route at the end of the game getting open in the corner of the end zone. Overall he accomplished a lot more good than bad helping Lynch in the process.
Bennie Fowler: C
Fowler had two plays that could’ve really turned his game around but he just missed them. At first, he got open over the middle on 3rd-and-9 but couldn’t make the play on a poor short throw by Lynch. Then Bennie made a terrific grab for 14 yards to get the Broncos rolling in the second quarter, but couldn’t hold on to a sideline pass on 3rd-and-7 trying to stretch out but unable to secure it to the ground.
He did make a nice back-shoulder catch to set the Broncos up towards the end of the game, though ultimately he was outplayed by Jordan Taylor and didn’t take full advantage of all the plays that came his way.
Virgil Green: C
Green got out in space to block on Paxton’s 3rd-and-1 scramble, doing a decent job. He was much better on a nice block on the opening drive of second half creating a big crease for Anderson to convert 2nd-and-4 on.
He made a short reception on the very next play in the flats. An okay game though his impact’s never been what it was the first month of the season where his blocking proved to be a big asset.
Other noteworthy offensive performances:
De’Angelo Henderson made a fine run on his 29-yard touchdown, staying patient and bursting through for the long score. He also showed flashes as a returner and it would have been nice to see him get a few more touches. A B performance with the potential for much more.
Jordan Taylor made a spectacular 30-yard play, catching the ball on the defender’s helmet for a huge gain. He almost had another incredible grab off a back shoulder throw barely stepping out of bounds. Taylor had a great outing and might’ve been the offensive MVP had he seen a few more touches. An A performance for the backup.
Special Teams: B
Special teams had another uneventful outing and that’s a good thing. Punter Riley Dixon left a few punts short, really the only shortcoming of the unit on the day.
On the positive side, Henderson had a nice 32-yard return that was a breath of fresh air. That’s about the extent of the special teams play.
Coaching: B-
The biggest mistake on the coaching staff was a flag for 13 men on the field on 2nd-and-goal setting the Chiefs up right at the goal-line.
The staff also had to adjust as several new faces were prominently featured all game long, doing a decent job of getting some young guys playing time while no one was an obvious liability.
In a matchup of two teams giving their youngsters lots of opportunities, it’s hard to put much of the final result on the coaches.
