The Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Denver Broncos on Sunday, and it was undoubtedly a closer game than most could've imagined. The matchup went down to the wire, and the Chiefs won on a blocked field goal. The defense had several miscues, while the offense seemingly could have done more to score against the Broncos' defense.
While the Chiefs may have been underwhelming, they improved to 9-0 and remain the only undefeated team in the NFL. A win is a win, no matter how ugly.
The End
The most important play of the game came in the closing seconds. While it seemed like the Broncos bested the Chiefs and handed them their first loss of the season, the defense came up big and blocked a walk-off field goal from happening.
The Chiefs gave the Broncos the perfect chance to win the game. Harrison Butker's less-than-ideal kickoff and the Chiefs' misuse of timeouts gave the Broncos everything they needed to beat the last remaining undefeated team.
The Broncos missed a field goal attempt earlier in the game, which also contributed to their loss. Overall, this showed that the Chiefs are gritty and can win under any circumstance. However, the Broncos unveiled the flaws in both the Chiefs' offense and defense and showed areas for improvement down the line.
How to Fix a Certain Issue
While the Chiefs defense has been great, there is one looming problem that they need to fix. In the last two weeks, the team has almost blown the game in the final drive from the opposing team. Against the Buccaneers, the offense was able to bail them out. Against the Broncos, the defense was able to tighten up to block the field goal.
There are two solid reasons why the Chiefs should've lost those games, but something supported them each time. Against better teams, however, that is not going to hold up.
This is a concerning trend that can hurt the Chiefs in the future. While their opponents this season haven't been the best so far, they will be facing the best of the best in the playoffs. Before they get to that point, the defense needs to fix this problem.
Injuries and Issues
In the second quarter, left tackle Wanya Morris tweaked his knee. Rookie Kingsley Suamataia came into the game at left tackle and struggled heavily. Morris reentered the game in the fourth quarter, but the concern had already mounted mightily.
While Morris did not get the starting job right out of preseason, he has retained it since Week 2. When Suamataia entered the game, he looked nearly unplayable, drastically different from how he looked in training camp.
Looking forward, the Chiefs have some concerns. They are looking for someone who can provide reliability, and Suamataia does not offer that in his current state. If they look ahead to the playoffs, there is great concern if anyone gets hurt. Looking to the free-agency market might not be the worst idea for the Chiefs.
When to Protect Mahomes
While this isn't exactly the greatest issue at the moment, it's something that is beginning to stand out during the Chiefs' games. Mahomes is visibly hurt, and when will that come back and haunt the Chiefs?
During the last two games, Mahomes hurt his ankle and hobbled on the sideline. Mahomes has been forced to run frequently and could not change his approach at all in this game. The concern of Morris being out will prove to be a greater issue. Mahomes cannot keep running around and trying to escape from defenders because this injury will get worse.
While there is virtually no chance that Mahomes will sit out this injury, especially since he has said multiple times that it is not something to be concerned about, the Chiefs are almost running away with the top seed in the AFC, along with the coveted first-round bye. It should be a discussion for the front office to have. While it will take a lot of persuasion to get Mahomes to stop playing, they need him healthy and suited up for the playoffs.
Up Next: Buffalo Bills
After seeing how the Chiefs played at home this week, beating the Buffalo Bills to stay undefeated might be a tall task, but if anyone can do it, it's the Chiefs. The Bills are coming off a win against the Colts and haven't lost since the beginning of October. However, they haven't played the strongest teams, so only time will tell how this matchup will turn out.
Final Score: Chiefs 16, Broncos 14
Jones' Three Stars
1st Star - Leo Chenal
Blocked Field Goal
2nd Star - Patrick Mahomes
28/42, 266 yards, 1 TD
3rd Star - Travis Kelce
8 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD
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