Report Card: Broncos vs. Chiefs

By Jim Lyles

BRONCOS RUSH OFFENSE: 

The Denver Broncos had 63 total plays from scrimmage, rushing the ball a shocking 55 times, and gaining 244 yards on the ground. Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno were both injured early in the first quarter of the game, but it didn’t change the Broncos running game plan a bit.

The Broncos rushing attack kept punching the Kansas City Chiefs defensive front in the mouth, with run after run after run. Lance Ball shouldered the rushing load with 30 attempts for 96 yards. Tim Tebow rushed nine times for 43 yards and touchdown. Fullback Spencer Larson and wide receiver Eddie Royal were also contributors to the Broncos land assault, as the Broncos’ staff seemed to use every ground option available.

The team’s offense held over a seven-minute advantage in time of possession for the game. The offensive line dominated the Chiefs defensive front at the line of scrimmage throughout the game.

Grade: A+

BRONCOS PASS OFFENSE:

Tim Tebow completed just two of eight passing attempts for 69 yards and one touchdown. One of Tebow’s two completions was the game deciding 56-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eric Decker in the fourth quarter. Tebow’s quarterback rating for the game was a very impressive 102.6, a number that most surely indicates quality over quantity. The passing game did exactly what it needed to do when it needed to do it.

Grade: B

BRONCOS RUN DEFENSE:

The Chiefs ran for 134 yards at 5.6 yards per attempt and had one rushing touchdown. The 5.6 yards per carry is a high number, but the defense controlled the line of scrimmage at crucial  times to force 14 third downs and seven punts.

Grade C+

BRONCOS PASS DEFENSE:

The Chiefs amassed 124 yards in the air on 34 pass attempts, averaging a dismal 3.6 yards per attempt. The secondary did an outstanding job in coverage allowing 18 completions in 34 attempts.

The Broncos recorded  four sacks. Von Miller (1.5 sacks), D.J Williams (1.0 sacks),  and Elvis Dumervil (0.5 sacks), harassed Matt Cassel all day, forcing many hurried throws and eventually forcing Cassel out of the game late in the fourth quarter with a significant  injury to his right hand.

Grade A+

BRONCOS SPECIAL TEAMS: 

It was the battle of the Colquitt brothers; older brother Dustin of the Chiefs won both the distance battle and the average yardage battle over younger brother Britton of the Broncos. Dustin’s long punt was 67 yards to Britton’s long of 60 yards. Dustin averaged 48.4 yards per punt while Britton averaged 43.9 per punt (Both punters handled seven punts apiece).

Kicker Matt Prater made one of two on field goals, missing an easy 41-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter that should have been final nail in the coffin. Prater maybe be raising some eyebrows.

B-

COACHING: 

The Broncos coaching staff had a ground game plan and when injuries struck, the team didn’t abandon their grind it out plan and it paid dividends. The running game kept the Broncos defense fresh and it kept the Broncos from needing to air it out

The Broncos defensive play calling was stellar. Matt Cassel appeared confused all game long. Two thumbs up!

A+

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