There is a legitimate case to be made that the Denver Broncos are the worst team in the NFL, and Thursday night’s loss to the Chiefs did not help to improve that narrative— even if the defensive play that went viral online was actually not the issue. Denver lost to Kansas City by 11, which was one-half point short of covering the spread. Sean Payton moved to 1-5 in his first year with the team after calling a boneheaded timeout.
Despite keeping one of the league’s best offenses under 20 points, it was not an encouraging performance. The box score paints a grim picture.
Russell Wilson did not reach 100 yards passing on a 59% completion clip. He also threw two interceptions. The Broncos accrued just 197 total yards. They allowed 389 to the Chiefs.
If there was a positive takeaway for Denver, it would be Kansas City’s 30% success rate on 13 third down attempts. It didn’t matter, but Payton and co. mostly got off of the field.
Of the many lowlights, one particular play went viral online during the game as aggregator accounts and fans who don’t know ball were quick to point and laugh. However, the mockery was not warranted!
The Chiefs had the ball on 3rd-and-11 at their own 35-yard-line. Patrick Mahomes took the snap and rolled to his right.
With him ran running back Jerick McKinnon. Out in front was wide receiver Justin Watson.
Mahomes chose to tuck and run, which put him in a two-on-one situation with McKinnon and Broncos defensive back Damarri Mathis. Mathis stepped up and hammered McKinnon, not Mahomes.
As a result, Mahomes was able to scamper for the first down without being touched.
The Denver Broncos were the butt of the joke.
Mathis in particular caught a lot of heat. Why did he go for McKinnon instead of Mahomes?!
Because he watched the tape.
Kansas City ran essentially the same play against Denver back in December. Mahomes did not tuck and run. He flipped the ball sidearmed and underhand to McKinnon, who went 56 yards for six.
Mathis on Thursday was playing what he saw on tape and stepped up to hit McKinnon to stop a touchdown. It was the rest of the Broncos defense that let him down.
While Mathis went after McKinnon, his teammates should have been quicker to the ball. Somebody else on the second level should have come down field to stop Mahomes.
Andy Reid had success with this exact play against this exact team in a big spot last season. He turned right back around and called it in a big spot against the same team this season. It worked. Brilliant.
Watch the tape! Make the play!