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OFFENSE — B-
Justin Outten’s play-calling debut featured a mixed bag but Denver hung around thanks to a pair of rushing touchdowns by quarterback Russell Wilson and a ground game that produced 4.9 yards per carry overall. A third-quarter interception around Chiefs touchdown drives came on an ill-advised throw from Wilson, but he also helped keep the Broncos in the game by making plays outside the pocket. The best chance Denver’s had for a good chunk of the season is the dink-and-dunk approach and they stuck more to that plan Sunday. Still, that’s a tough way to try to beat a team like Kansas City.
DEFENSE — B
Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero didn’t need to be the Broncos’ interim head coach to keep building his resume. For the second time in a month, his defense made life difficult for MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s vaunted offense. One of the Chiefs’ touchdowns needed just 17 yards after a Wilson interception. Try as they might, though, Denver hasn’t found an answer for Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon. He racked up four receiving touchdowns in two games against Denver this year, including a pair Sunday. The Broncos got a big stop late in the game to give Wilson and company a chance, but the offense couldn’t move the ball. Even solid outings are no guarantee to look good against Mahomes, who finished with 328 passing yards and a trio of touchdowns along with one Justin Simmons interception.
SPECIAL TEAMS — A-
Special teams played a major role in Denver having a chance at the upset. Alex Singleton made the biggest play of the day when he forced a fumble on a punt return and set up the Broncos’ first touchdown of the day. Second on the list: Rookie defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike blocked a field goal just before halftime. Kendall Hinton logged three punt returns for 37 yards. Brandon McManus knocked home a 49-yard field goal. For the first time in a long time, the third phase was a plus for the Broncos. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that it happened in the first game of assistant special teams coordinator Mike Mallory and interim head coach Jerry Rosburg overseeing the operation, but perhaps not.
COACHING — B
Rosburg stepped into a tough spot six days ago when he accepted the interim job in the wake of Nathaniel Hackett’s firing. Say this for his first time on the sideline as a head coach: The Broncos didn’t back down from Kansas City. Play-calling coordinators Outten and Evero both had solid days. Rosburg aptly preserved his timeouts in the second half so the Broncos would have one more chance at stopping the Chiefs after the two-minute warning, but Mahomes made one play too many.
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