5 Chiefs the Denver Broncos need to worry about on Sunday Night
By Noah Smith
![DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs directs his team from the line of scrimmage against the defense of the Denver Broncos in the game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs directs his team from the line of scrimmage against the defense of the Denver Broncos in the game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fpredominantlyorange-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2016-2F04-2F1181732536-850x560-51b7c37d642669d327043d6b84ce3b0507ba1559e2146953800595caf472f0ee.jpg)
5. Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill exploded against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, with 13 receptions for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns, per ESPN. When left unchecked, Hill is capable of destroying a secondary, and single-handedly wrecking the Broncos’ game plan.
Tyreek Hill in the first quarter:
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 29, 2020
- 203 yards
- Two TDs
- One backflip across the goal line
(via @Chiefs)pic.twitter.com/wg5agSiwPr
Hill is one of the top receivers in the NFL, and one of the fastest and most electric players the NFL has ever seen. Hill is not only capable of taking the top off of a defense, but also taking short targets to the house with his after-the-catch ability.
With so many weapons on offense, the Chiefs often get Hill lined up against an inexperienced corner with speed. Hill has legitimate route-running skills and can uncover for big gains down the field.
The Broncos did a good job at slowing Hill down in their first matchup this year, where Hill had 6 catches for 55 yards and a touchdown on the day. The Broncos will need a similar effort by their secondary if they want to contend with the Chiefs on Sunday.
The Broncos used many different looks to slow down Hill, and “passed Hill off” between zones. This means that different defenders would be covering Hill as he progressed down the football field, with Broncos defenders “handing off” Hill to the next defender in their zone.
By executing excellent fundamental defense, the Broncos were able to keep Tyreek Hill in check. Bryce Callahan had a large impact on the game, as he was tasked with covering Hill in their first matchup.
Denver will be without their star cornerback for Sunday night’s matchup, so Vic Fangio will need to have a plan for who will be primarily covering Hill. Expect to see multiple players covering Hill throughout the game, with plenty of double coverage on deep routes.
The Broncos’ defense held the Chiefs’ offense in check for most of the first matchup between the two teams. If the Broncos’ defense can hold Hill and the rest of the offense down, the Broncos have a chance to shock the world and leave Arrowhead Stadium with a win.