Nobody’s second-guessing Kubiak at Broncos HQ

Doesn’t necessarily lose games for Kansas City, but doesn’t really win them, either.

On a Sunday night, primetime game, against a division rival, at home, the Denver Broncos came up just short.

For starters, of course, the Chiefs simply don’t win this game without linebacker Justin Houston’s ferocious return to full health after more or less using the Tampa Bay game as a rehearsal for his comeback from knee surgery. Houston was on the field for 75 of 84 snaps against the Broncos.

Siemian threw for 368 yards and three TDs with no interceptions in his best game as a pro. What started off as a slow defensive battle quickly became a shootout. The offense managed to score only 3 points and looked outmatched. Ty Sambrailo played so poorly he was yanked for Donald Stephenson.

Kelce recorded multiple drops in the same game for the first time in his career, but then recovered when it mattered most with 56 yards on four catches in the Chiefs’ final three possessions. The emergence of A.J. Big plays, no matter how or when they came, needed to be made. Broncos tackle Russell Okung fell on the ball and was touched down for the safety. As the offense began clicking, the usually tough defense seemed to unravel in the fourth quarter.

Late in the third quarter, Siemian orchestrated a 12-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Broncos receiver Jordan Taylor.

“Tonight was a bad night”, Von Miller said.

Of course, those numbers don’t take into account that Denver’s altitude is generally more conducive to long kicks, of which Kubiak – a former Broncos quarterback – was no doubt well aware. Or had they not stopped kicking his direction altogether.

When the game was flexed into prime time I, like many of you, was concerned about the recent performances of the Chiefs in nationally televised games.

Often, when it comes to Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, the conversation begins with all the things he doesn’t do.

Prior to kick-off, many would’ve called Sunday night’s task near impossible for the Kansas City Chiefs: Go on the road, in front of a national television audience, against the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos and leave Mile High Stadium with a win. Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub-who’s coached Devin Hester-stated he’s “the fastest player I’ve ever had”, per Luke Manderfeld of the Kansas City Star. “Not just on offense, but on special teams as we saw today”.

The Broncos continue to struggle in key areas. After James White stretched for 4 yards on fourth-and-4, a 25-yard catch by Chris Hogan put the ball at the 8. While the play still counted, it cost the team 15 yards. Punt the ball and the Broncos would have had – again according to my own logic – 10 percent chance to win (must give some odds for a turnover), 70 percent chance for a tie and 20 percent chance the Chiefs would have drove against the Broncos’ soft coverage into field goal range. Cairo Santos connected on a 34-yard field goal that hit the left upright and snuck in to deliver Kansas City the win.

Denver struck first in overtime, with a 44-yard field goal by McManus, but the Chiefs responded with one of their own, from 37 yards.

Though the game did not end the way they wanted, the Broncos are not second-guessing their aggressive decision.