Chiefs defense was pickin’ and grinnin’ in win over Denver

Chiefs safety Ron Parker went up for the grab and came down in a heap in on the Broncos’ sideline. The call was an incompletion, with officials ruling that Parker didn’t have control of the ball when he hit the turf.

Parker knew otherwise.

“I knew when I came down I got both feet inbounds,” Parker said. “Andy (Reid) came over and asked me, and I told him I felt comfortable about it.”

The challenge led to an overturn and the fourth of five interceptions by the Chiefs in their 29-13 victory over the Broncos on Sunday.

It also was the fourth against Peyton Manning. He would not be around long enough to throw a fifth. Parker’s pick ended Manning’s day.

The interception parade started with rookie cornerback Marcus Peters stepping in front of a deep middle throw to Vernon Davis on the game’s third play. The Chiefs finished that possession with a touchdown.

The ball-hawking never stopped. Sean Smith was next with a juggling grab, in the second quarter.

Then linebacker Josh Mauga got one midway through the second quarter. Both led to Cairo Santos’ field goals.

At halftime, Manning had completed four passes and thrown three picks.

Parker’s came next, and Eric Berry finished the haul with a fourth-quarter interception off a deflected pass in the end zone, thrown by reserve quarterback Brock Osweiler.

Taking a knee here might have been the prudent move, but not on this day. The aggression ran hot, and Berry blasted out of the end zone for a 25-yard return,

“I told Marcus in the second quarter and the third quarter, when I get my pick I’m trying to score,” Berry said. “It was premeditated.”

The Chiefs also came up with five sacks, two by Justin Houston, and to a man they spoke of preparation and communication. It had to help that Manning was playing with injuries to his ribs and foot, but this was the same player who had won 14 of his 15 previous starts against the Chiefs, with the Colts and Broncos.

“We know Peyton Manning is a great quarterback and he’s very smart,” Mauga said. “Trying to plan for him is always tough. You hope everything falls into place like it did today.”

The five interceptions were the most by the Chiefs since a 2013 game at Oakland and fell two short of the club record. Manning had only thrown more interceptions in a game once in his career.

Peters’ pick was his fourth of the season and second against Manning. It also was Peters’ second of the season on the game’s first possession, turning the trick on the first play of the season at Houston in the opener.

Sunday marked the fifth straight game the Chiefs have come up with at least two interceptions. They’ve had 11 in the past four games and 13 on the season, and their three in the first half had only happened one other time since 1991.

This from a team that had an NFL-low six interceptions in 2014.

Additionally, the Chiefs were credited with 13 passes defended, matching the third most for a game in franchise history. Peters has 13 for the year, tied for the second-most in team history and his taking aim at Marcus Cooper’s team record of 18.

In all, an amazing day of pass defense against one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Wounded, yes, but a ferocious defense that was ready from the opening series.

“I think it was great execution on our part,” defensive end Mike DeVito said. “The guys were doing their jobs.”

This story was originally published November 15, 2015 at 8:39 PM with the headline "Chiefs defense was pickin’ and grinnin’ in win over Denver."