When it came time to hand in your office pool picks for Week 8 of the NFL schedule, chances are few, if any, circled the Denver Broncos as opposed to the heavily favored Kansas City Chiefs. And let’s be honest, why would you? The Chiefs are Super Bowl favorites and were sitting at 6-1 while the Broncos have been bottom feeders in the AFC for a few years and sported a 2-5 record.
And then it happened. Whether it was the weather, Patrick Mahomes being sick, the Chiefs playing to the level of their lesser opponent, one that they smacked around just two weeks prior or maybe just maybe it was the Broncos actually figuring things out, somehow, someway, Sean Payton’s team walked away with a dominating 24-9 victory.
It has been sixteen games since the Broncos last defeated the Chiefs, dating all the way back to 2015. Over that period of 2,962 days, Taylor Swift has been linked to Calvin Harris, Tom Hiddleston, Joe Alwyn, Matty Healy, and of course Travis Kelce.
So, what really happened on Sunday afternoon in the Mile High City?
Tay Tay
For just the first time in the “Swelce” era, the Chiefs completely dominated on the gridiron. While they did lose their season opener, it was by the smallest of margins, unlike Sunday’s game.
Not since the Chief’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars as Kelce had such a minimal impact, finishing with just 6 receptions for 58 yards.
“Have you beat the Chiefs in the past 8 years?”
Broncos:
pic.twitter.com/sykakZFG8S— Matt C (@MattfromKC) October 27, 2023
Flu Game
First off, Patrick Mahomes was dealing with the flu, and while he did take the field, he certainly wasn’t the Mahomes that fans have come to know and love. Throwing for just 241 yards including two interceptions, the lopsided loss would be the first time in two years that the Chiefs QB would be held without a touchdown pass.
Holding Mahomes at bay was a Broncos defense that up until Week 8 had been anything but a weapon. With defensive coordinator Vince Joseph on the hot seat, the Broncos hit Mahomes eleven times, adding three sacks, and two interceptions, as well as forcing three fumbles.
WE GOT OUR FIRST SNOW GAME ❄️
Sunday’s Chiefs vs Broncos game in Denver calls for a high of 29 degrees with 6-14 inches of snow. pic.twitter.com/trvBfQpmDF
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) October 28, 2023
Pink Slip
After taking over for Ejiro Evero, Joseph’s defense struggled to show much sign of life this season, however, Sunday felt different. Thanks to Zach Allen, Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning, and Jonathon Cooper, not only was Mahomes held to a modest 241 yards and a pedestrian 59.2% passing rating, but Joseph’s job remained safe for another week.
Broncos Breakout
With the trade deadline looming, Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton found their way into the endzone with Sutton recording his sixth touchdown of the season and Jeudy catching his first.
This may or may not be a good thing for both the players and the franchise. As a struggling team, it seemed almost certain that one if not both would be on the trade block, potentially headed to greener pastures. Now with a 3-5 record, as part of a two-game winning streak, the Broncos front office may decide to retain the two wide receivers in hopes that they can make a playoff push.
JERRY. JEUDY. 😤
📺: CBS | @jerryjeudy
pic.twitter.com/iE7bhVrs0n— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 29, 2023
Track Stars
As much as fans want to see Russell Wilson sling the long ball, the Broncos have been far more effective when they implement a heavy dose of the running game. Not only does it protect their thirty-four-year-old quarterback, but it also ate away at the clock, keeping Mahomes off of the field as the Chiefs totaled just 26:13 minutes with possession of the ball while Denver finished with 33:47 minutes.
On Sunday, Denver kept the ball on the ground forty times as opposed to nineteen aerial attempts, amounting to 153 yards. With 27 carries, Javonte Williams dominated the running game with 27 carries for 85 yards, tripling the number of carries by anyone else on the field and doubling the amount of yards by the next closest running back. Williams finished the afternoon by adding 3 receptions for 13 yards and a visit to the endzone.
Broncos played Taylor Swift after beating Chiefs 😂
(via @YahooSports) pic.twitter.com/PdCBg96sMh
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 29, 2023
A Look Ahead
While one can’t do anything about living in the past, two narrow-margin losses against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Washington Commanders could have the Broncos sitting at 5-3 rather than the other way around. But the past is the past.
Other than a bruised ego, the Chiefs will come out of this game just fine and will head into their highly anticipated matchup with the Miami Dolphins as a slight favorite.
The same can’t be said for the Denver Broncos as they look ahead to their game against the Buffalo Bills.
Unfortunately, the two-game winning streak could not come at a worse time for the Broncos as they head into a bye week. Winners of three of their last five games, the Broncos may have finally started to steer the ship in the right direction, but will the week off see their Cinderella carriage turn back into a pumpkin?
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson passes during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
