KC Chiefs’ report card vs. Broncos: What has happened to this team’s rush defense?
The Chiefs had to overcome themselves Saturday afternoon before pulling off a 28-24 win over the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Kansas City closed out the 2021 regular season with a 13th straight win over their AFC West rivals, and now sit on a 12-5 record ahead of the playoffs.
Whether they are in as the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, however, will need to wait until after Sunday’s games. The Chiefs need the Tennessee Titans to lose to the Houston Texans to secure the top seed, and with it the all-important bye in the first round of the postseason.
But before the Chiefs know when they are playing, here’s a look back with our grades from the Chiefs’ win over the Broncos.
KC STAR OF THE GAME
With wide receiver Tyreek Hill dealing with a sore heel, the Chiefs needed another receiver to step up.
Third-year pro Mecole Hardman answered the call. He revealed after the game that he found out about the enhanced role he’d be filling shortly before kickoff, but he performed well.
The Chiefs called his number often and he responded with eight catches for a team-high 103 yards on 11 targets. He also had one carry for 10 yards. It’s the first time in Hardman’s professional career that he’d topped 100 yards.
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: A
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t allow Hill’s limited use to affect him much. He completed 27 of 44 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns for a 93.9 passer rating. Mahomes’ touchdown passes went to tight end Travis Kelce and running Jerick McKinnon.
Hardman led the team in receiving, while Byron Pringle made five catches for 56 yards. Kelce added 34 yards on four catches, while DeMarcus Robinson totaled three catches for 19 yards. Hill, who shuttled in and out of the game, tallied one catch for 2 yards and a first down on three targets.
Rushing offense: A
The Chiefs effectively utilized a committee approach to the running game after Darrel Williams suffered a toe injury and didn’t play in the second half. Williams finished with 47 total yards (17 rushing).
Mahomes led the Chiefs in rushing with 54 yards on nine carries, including a long of 25. He also ran for a 2-point conversion. Derrick Gore tallied 30 yards rushing on seven carries, while McKinnon added 50 total yards (26 receiving) and a touchdown.
As a team, the Chiefs rushed for 135 yards on 29 carries, averaging 4.7 — good enough to earn an A-grade.
Passing defense: B
On paper, the Chiefs did a solid job against Broncos quarterback Drew Lock, who completed 12 of 24 passes for 162 yards and no touchdowns. The Chiefs, however, sacked Lock only once and hit him just twice.
Lock also connected on deep passes to wide receiver Tim Patrick (31 yards) and Jerry Juedy (28 yards) a week after the Chiefs’ secondary was torched by the Bengals’ big plays.
Rushing defense: D
The Chiefs suddenly have a problem against the run, allowing opponents to top 100 yards in three of their last four games. The Broncos gouged the Chiefs for 191 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per rush.
Melvin Gordon coughed up a fumble that Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton returned 86 yards for a touchdown, but the Broncos’ top running back had a good game otherwise, rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Lock also hurt the Chiefs with his legs, totaling 35 yards and two touchdowns on four carries. Backup running back Javonte Williams chipped in 46 yards on 12 carries.
Bottom line, the Chiefs need to tighten up against the run in the playoffs.
Special teams: A-
The Chiefs’ special teams shook off two early gaffes: kicker Harrison Butker slipped on a kickoff and safety Zayne Anderson was flagged for roughing the kicker to give the Broncos a first down.
Butker came back to nail two field goals, including a 51-yarder, and two extra points. Tommy Townsend had two punts for 101 yards, averaging 50.5.
This story was originally published January 8, 2022 at 8:48 PM with the headline "KC Chiefs’ report card vs. Broncos: What has happened to this team’s rush defense?."
