Denver Broncos: Recapping the loss to the Chiefs
Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter was when things went downhill. Keenum had a couple of miscommunications with receiver Demaryius Thomas, including one at 12:47 on third down.
Denver had to bring out kicker Brandon McManus. The kick was good to put Denver up 23-13.
On 3rd-and16, Mahomes threw to the first-down marker to Tyreek Hill. The play was short, making it 4th-and-1 but Kansas City was able to convert.
Seven plays later on the drive, Kansas City got the ball into the end zone by throwing a quick pass to tight end Travis Kelce, making the score 23-20. The Broncos got the ball with 6:27 left, up by three. On third and 10 with 5:11 left, Keenum rolled to the right and attempted to run for the first down but gained no yards.
Punter Marquette King had a terrible punt, giving the Chiefs great field position, at their own 40-yard line.
On 2nd-and-1, the Chiefs threw a short pass to Tyreek Hill but it was stopped by cornerback Adam Jones, making it 3rd-and-5. Kansas City converted after Von Miller pressured Mahomes, making him throw the ball with his left hand.
Bradley Chubb rattled Mahomes, forcing him to throw the ball quickly but the quarterback was flagged for intentional grounding, making it 2nd-and-20.
The next play, the Chiefs called a screen play that went for a few yards but a Chiefs lineman was called for holding.
Then came 2nd-and-30.
With time ticking away, Mahomes got a big chunk of those yards back. On 3rd-and-7, Mahomes found a receiver for a 35-yard completion. Kansas City found themselves at Denver’s 11, and Mahomes threw to tight end Travis Kelce.
The play was out of bounds but Denver shot themselves in the foot with an offsides penalty.
More from Predominantly Orange
- Broncos chances of landing Sean Payton dwindling, but not gone
- Denver Broncos dream coaching staff for DeMeco Ryans
- Denver Broncos: “Sleeper” David Shaw checks every box
- The Broncos’ coaching search likely has not gone to plan
- Special Chiefs Suck Offer: Bet $5, Win $150 if Joe Burrow Passes for ONE YARD vs KC
Three plays later, running back Kareem Hunt ran the ball into the end zone, making it 26-23 Chiefs. The PAT was good, increasing the lead to 27-23.
On the first play of Denver’s final possession, Keenum was unable to run away from a Chiefs player, absorbing a 10-yard sack. It was a play-action pass. Not something anybody expected, especially down four points with less than 2:00 to play. They did not fool anybody.
On third down, Keenum found Courtland Sutton for no gain.
On 4th and 11, Keenum found Emmanuel Sanders for the first down and out of bounds, stopping the clock.
Keenum was under pressure the next play but found tight end Jeff Heuerman wide open for a huge gain to the Chiefs 28-yard line.
The Chiefs nearly intercepted Keenum on the next play, but the ball fell incomplete.
Then for the killer. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was wide—and I mean wide—open on the right side. However, Keenum overthrew him.
Thomas gets a lot of hate among fans, but this was on Keenum. He has to make that play.
Next. Quick reactions to Broncos loss to Chiefs. dark
On the final play, a 4th-and-10, Keenum dropped back from the shotgun into the hands of Courtland Sutton. Sutton tried lateraling to Emmanuel Sanders but Sanders didn’t snatch the ball.
The play resulted in a fumble and Kansas City recovered the ball and was able to run out the clock.