The Kansas City Chiefs’ Win Against The Broncos Leaves Cause For Concern

The Kansas City Chiefs’ latest victory in their 13-game streak over the Denver Broncos — a 28-24 win on Saturday — was gutty. They prevailed despite trailing much of the second half and playing much of the game without their best receiver and top two running backs.

“At the end of the game, if it’s close,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said, “we’re going to find a way.” 

As they head toward the playoffs, the Chiefs’ fourth-quarter rally in their final regular-season game could be a sign of championship fortitude.

The performance, however, was also disconcerting.

A defense, which had helped turn around the season by allowing 14 or fewer points in five straight contests, surrendered 191 rushing yards on 6.8 yards per carry.

This comes one week after the pass defense was victimized for 415 yards, including an NFL rookie record 266 receiving yards by Ja’Marr Chase.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who learned under the late, esteemed Jim Johnson, is a respected coach who helped craft the defensive gameplan that pressured Tom Brady while thwarting the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

But his Chiefs unit has regressed the last two weeks.

Against the Cincinnati Bengals it was overaggressive at times.

He explained a zero blitz on 3rd and 27, which left the Chiefs in one-on-one coverage against Chase, by saying they were trying to prevent a short completion that could result in a field goal. Instead, it resulted in a 30-yard completion.

On the Broncos’ first drive of the third quarter, the defense didn’t blitz on 3rd and 13 but allowed a 31-yard pass to Tim Patrick. 

Two plays later running back Melvin Gordon burned a run blitz for a 47-yard touchdown, one of several long rushes, including by quarterback Drew Lock — who is not exactly fleet of foot — that gashed the Chiefs defense.

Of course, the defense did make the key play to turn around the contest. 

It was ignited by Melvin Ingram, whose acquisition on Nov. 2, has elevated the defense.

The 32-year-old edge rusher originally signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who traded him to the Chiefs for a sixth-round pick, allowing the Chiefs to pay him just $597, 222 this season.

“Since he’s come in here,” rookie linebacker Nick Bolton said, “he’s been a great vet in the room.”

But Ingram was never more valuable that he was in Week 18.

On the Broncos’ first play of the third quarter, he dropped Gordon, his friend and former Los Angeles Chargers teammate, for a three-yard loss. Then, in the fourth quarter as Denver led 21-20 and had the ball inside the Chiefs’ 10-yard line, Ingram hit Gordon behind the line of scrimmage to force a fumble, which Bolton returned 86 yards for a touchdown.

“That was a gamechanger,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. “He ran like a stallion.”

Bolton and Ingram helped rescue a Chiefs team that trailed with fewer than eight minutes left and whose offense sputtered for much of the contest.

“I just feel like we haven’t had that complete game yet,” Mahomes said, “on offense, defense and special teams.”

In addition to a display that was lackluster at times — especially by the defense — the Chiefs suffered multiple injuries.

Running back Darrel Williams, who was filling in for Clyde Edwards-Helaire, injured his big toe. Tight end Travis Kelce limped off after hauling in the first down that sealed the game, though Reid said he was fine. No. 1 wide receiver Tyreek Hill tweaked his heel during warm-ups.

“He just landed on it funny,” Reid said.

The heel injury limited Hill to just seven of the team’s first 33 snaps and to one reception, which converted a key 4th-and-1 play.

The Chiefs overcame those injuries to extend the club’s record for the longest winning streak against a single opponent in franchise history. 

The victory also guaranteed them no worse than a No. 2 seed.

Only the No. 1 seed gets the bye, and the Baltimore Ravens in 2012 are the last AFC team to reach the Super Bowl without one.

Mahomes said he plans on watching the NFL games on Sunday, including the Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans game, which will determine whether the Chiefs can elevate to that No. 1 seed.

“We’re ready to go wherever against whoever,” Mahomes said.

Whoever they face, the Chiefs will have to play better in the playoffs than they did on Saturday if they want to reach the Super Bowl for the third straight year.