Five things to know about the Chiefs’ next opponent: Denver Broncos (round two)
It’s fair to say you can throw out Sunday’s game when trying to gauge the success or failure of the Denver Broncos this season.
Because of COVID-19 protocols, the Broncos were forced to start a wide receiver at quarterback in Sunday’s 31-3 loss to the Saints in Denver. To clarify, it was a practice-squad receiver.
That shouldn’t be the case when Denver comes to Arrowhead Stadium this Sunday.
Each week we take an early look at the Chiefs’ next opponent. Here are five things to know about the Broncos ahead of Sunday’s game, which kicks off at 7:20 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC (Ch. 41).
1. Lock’s back (again)
The Broncos entered Sunday’s games ranked 24th in passing yards but dropped to 26th after Kendall Hinton, called upon to start at QB, threw for just 13 yards against the Saints. A receiver, Hinton was pressed into duty when Denver’s four quarterbacks were ruled out because of COVID-19 contact tracing or a positive test.
Drew Lock likely will be back to start Sunday against the Chiefs. Lock, the former Lee’s Summit and Mizzou star, has yet to finish a game with a quarterback rating of 100.0 or better this season. He has completed 55.6% of his passes for 1,767 yards, seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
In the Chiefs’ 43-16 win at Denver in October, Lock had a 57.7 passer rating after throwing a pair of interceptions. In the Chiefs’ 23-3 win over the Broncos last December at Arrowhead Stadium, Lock’s quarterback rating was 45.0.
2. Injured running back
Following Sunday’s dreadful showing, the Broncos’ offense is ranked 31st in the NFL in scoring (19.0 points per game). Only the Jets are worse.
The Broncos are 14th in the NFL in rushing (113.5 yards per game).
Running back Melvin Gordon, who ran some plays out of the Wildcat last Sunday, leads the team with 554 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Philip Lindsay has run for 414 yards. He also was in the Wildcat at times on Sunday.
Broncos coach Vic Fangio said Lindsay “tweaked his knee a little bit” in Sunday’s game. Lindsay left the game early and his status will be something to watch this week.
Heading into Sunday’s games, Denver’s Garett Bolles was the highest-graded tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
3. Jeudy, Jeudy, Jeudy
Rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy was limited last week because of an ankle/Achilles injury, and he was targeted just once on Sunday. But he still leads the Broncos in receiving yards (589) and leads all receivers in catches (37). Tight end Noah Fant is the Broncos’ leading receiver (40 catches) overall and had the team’s lone reception against New Orleans.
4. Denver’s D
The Broncos have the NFL’s 10th-ranked defense, allowing 341.4 yards per game. However, Denver ranks 24th in scoring defense, giving up 27.1 points per game.
The Broncos’ pass defense is ranked eighth (210.1 ypg), but they rank 19th in the NFL with eight interceptions. Denver has 31 sacks, the seventh-most in the NFL this year. Their rush defense ranks 26th (131.3 ypg).
Free safety Justin Simmons leads the Broncos with four interceptions and seven passes defended. He’s also recovered a fumble.
5. Not seeing yellow
Denver is one of the least-penalized teams in the NFL, having been flagged just 58 times, per the Football Database. That’s 24th in the league.
This story was originally published November 30, 2020 at 11:40 AM.
