The Broncos are in a tailspin and can’t seem to find their groove on offense. There were three takeaways from the Week 13 loss that indicate some possible solutions for Denver going forward.
The Denver Broncos lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13. The 3 Broncos takeaways from the game are: Trevor Siemian, Emmanuel Sanders and Virgil Green. Read more in detail here: denver broncos roster.
Despite their best efforts, the Denver Broncos were defeated 22-9 by the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13. The Broncos fell to 6-6 on the season and to last place in the tight-knit NFC West division, putting their postseason hopes in jeopardy.
Patrick Mahomes put in another fantastic performance, but the Broncos’ offense couldn’t get anything going during the game. Teddy Bridgewater struggled, completing 22 of 40 pass attempts for 257 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, one of which went to Daniel Sorensen of all people. On offense, Javonte Williams shone in his debut game as the team’s workhorse back while Melvin Gordon was out with an injury.
Week 13 was always going to be a difficult game for the Broncos, but they managed to keep it close. A major offensive play or two may have shifted the game in their favor, but it was not to be. With a.500 record, the Broncos will need a strong finish to have a shot at playoff football. Their remaining schedule includes home games against the Lions and Bengals before embarking on a three-game road trip against division foes the Raiders, Chargers, and Chiefs. The club will need to be at its best to finish the year on such a difficult schedule.
Let’s look at three key lessons from the Week 13 matchup between the Broncos and the Chiefs.
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Takeaways from Week 13 for the Broncos
3. Mahomes was held in check by the defense.
This defeat cannot be blamed only on the defense. The Broncos’ defense was on point practically the whole night, shutting down Patrick Mahomes in one of his worst-ever outings. The Chiefs’ ace quarterback did not throw a touchdown pass, but he did score on the ground. He went 15-of-29 for 184 yards and an interception, albeit the interception was not his fault. KC’s run game was also stale. Clyde Edwards-Helaire led all Chiefs rushers with 54 yards, while the team combined for just 89 yards on the ground. Despite the loss, this Broncos defense, who had just just seen Von Miller leave for richer pastures, demonstrated that they are still a top-notch unit.
2. There is room for improvement in decision-making.
Some members of the franchise made a few head-scratching choices in the defeat to Kansas City. One of the most egregious came in the second quarter, after Denver had led a spectacular 20-play, 10-minute drive down the field. After squandering almost all of the quarter’s time, the Broncos found themselves in Chiefs territory, facing a 4th-and-2 from the 8-yard line. Vic Fangio, who was down 10-3 at the moment, had no interest in earning three points. Instead, the team rushed the ball up the gut, resulting in a one-yard loss for Javonte Williams. Apart from keeping the ball out of the Chiefs’ hands, Denver got nothing out of their massive drive. On normal nights, it would have been a victory, but with Kansas City’s offense sputtering on Sunday, Denver had no reason to give down free points in a low-scoring game.
Denver spent the whole game on defense, but they should’ve known long ago that if they pressed the accelerator pedal, they could win this game. Despite the fact that Kansas City’s offense was a shadow of its former self, with Mahomes and Tyreek Hill plainly out of sync, the Broncos were unable to capitalize.
1. Javonte Williams has the potential to be a workhorse running back.
On offense, there wasn’t much to be excited about, but if Broncos Nation is seeking for a cause to be optimistic, they’ll find it in their rookie running back. On Sunday, Javonte Williams had his greatest game of his career, playing alongside veteran Melvin Gordon for the first time without being shackled. Williams took advantage of his chance, running for 102 yards on 23 runs and catching six passes for 76 yards and a score. Williams’ breakthrough game was a treat to behold, as he consistently fashioned good gains out of thin air and blasted past gaps at whim.
In his first start of the season, the 21-year-old North Carolina product lived up to the promise, and he has the potential to revolutionize the way the coaching staff views the running backs room in the future. When Williams was paired with Gordon, he was outstanding, but witnessing how he worked when he had the backfield to himself was absolutely eye-opening.
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