Broncos Use Methodical Game Plan To Beat Chiefs

The Denver Broncos knocked off the last undefeated team in the league with a basic game plan on offense and a opportunistic and annoying defense, en route to a 27-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at home. This win gives the Broncos a first place perch atop the AFC West.

While their leader John Fox convalesces after a heart scare, interim head coach Jack Del Rio kept it simple as the Broncos didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard but they did annoy the Chiefs defense from time to time.

Denver got on the board first with a Matt Prater 54 yard field goal to go up 3-0 with 12:33 left in the first quarter. That field goal was Prater’s 13th consecutive successful field of the season up to that point (he missed a 52 yarder later in the game).

The Chiefs ensuing drive ended when Broncos linebacker Shaun Phillips beat rookie right tackle Eric Fisher around the corner and then sacked quarterback Alex Smith (21 of 45 for 230 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions) for a 7 yard loss back to the KC 29 yard line. That sack forced a 4th and 17 punt from the KC 36.

Later in the first quarter, Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson recovered a Montee Ball fumble and returned it to the DEN 18 yard line. But on the next play, the Broncos got the ball right back when a Danny Trevathan hard hit on Chiefs running back Anthony Sherman forced a fumble that ended up in the hands of cornerback Quentin Jammer at the DEN 16 yard line.

Denver took advantage of that turnover when quarterback Peyton Manning (24 of 40 for 323 yards and 1 score) found receiver Demaryius Thomas (5 catches for 121 yards) down the right sideline for a 70 yard connection to the KC 9 where the receiver was thrown out of bounds by safety Quintin Demps. That huge play led to a Manning 9 yard touchdown pass to tight end Julius Thomas for an eventual 10-0 Denver lead with 3:23 left in the first quarter.

Kansas City finally got on the board when Smith fired a touchdown pass to receiver Dwayne Bowe (4 catches for 57 yards and 1 score) who caught the pass near the right corner of the end zone versus Denver’s close covering Kayvon Webster. That play was one of the few fruitful plays of the night for Bowe, who was constantly blanketed by Denver’s cornerbacks or safeties. The score was now 10-7 Denver with 13:23 left in the second quarter.

Demaryius Thomas came through again for his team with his down the right sideline reception for 29 yards to the KC 18 yard line. That reception set up a half-yard touchdown run by Ball behind a Joel Dreesen block. Now it was 17-7 Denver with 9:05 left in the first half.

A huge play for the Chiefs took place later in the second quarter, when Charles sped through a huge hole on the left side and then down the right sideline to the KC 33 yard line where he was shoved out of bounds by Denver cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. That 35 yard run by Charles was his longest of the year. But all his run led to was a successful 21 yard Ryan Succop field goal. The score was now 17-10 Denver with 2:55 left in the first half.

The Chiefs game long futility in putting points on the board is further explained by this: it took them 38:26 seconds off game clock time to score another point. Tight end Anthony Fasano scored his first touchdown—since December 16, 2012 versus Jacksonville—on a 10 yard back of the end zone touchdown reception that eventually put the score at 27-17 Denver with 5:02 left in the game.

Phillips ended this game the way he started it. Charles caught a dump off pass from Smith then he quickly met up with Phillips who snatched the running back and tackled him for a 5 yard loss back to the KC 9 yard line. Game over.