Mile High Report
Kansas City has one of the best defenses in the NFL and make life difficult for Nix and the Denver offense.
Everyone knows about Patrick Mahomes.
He’s the best quarterback in the NFL and is the main reason the Kansas City Chiefs remain unbeaten at 8-0. As a fan of the Denver Broncos, we know what Chiefs fans lived through when John Elway played in Denver.
But their defense is another factor in Kansas City’s unblemished start this season. Led by Chris Jones and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulo, the Chiefs have one of the best defenses in the NFL. The KC defense is near the top of the league in just about every statistical category. As a unit, the Chiefs are fourth in scoring defense at 18.4 points per game.
It's obvious that the Kansas City defense will pose a serious challenge to Bo Nix, Sean Payton, and the Broncos' offense today.
As Payton said to the Denver media on Friday:
“Let’s start with this, they’re playing really good defense. Now, Andy (Reid) has done this a long time. So he knows how to win. That might vary week to week. Your roster changes, you have injuries, and pieces come and go. So we as coaches kind of have to look at that. They’ve done a really good job at it. The heart of a champion — I say that.
“There’s a confidence level, and there’s a belief that — I’ve been a part of that—where you just knew that you were in every game, or you had a chance. You take Tampa last week, going in there, (WR Mike) Evans is out and (WR Chris) Godwin you know … they played a real good game. I think it gets back to what you saw for years from the Patriots. It’s just that inner belief of, ‘Whatever we have to do.’ That’s what we’re pushing for, so we’ll be ready.”
One of the best ways to counter the KC defense is the Broncos offensive line will have to protect Nix. Give the rookie quarterback at least some time to make plays in the passing game. Nix will also have to use his legs to extend drives.
It would also help Denver to get the running game going, as we saw at the end of the Baltimore Ravens game.
“If you’ve studied their coverage shell — if you were just watching from high above and at the snap, oftentimes you’ll see a lot of two-high (coverage),” Payton said to the media. “They’re playing some quarters, they’re playing some palms. Essentially, the receivers are all pressed with safeties, so interior would be the tight ends and the (running) backs. I think part of it is a byproduct of how they’re playing defense. Steve (Spagnuolo) knows what he’s doing, but that’s one of their base coverage principles.”
Whatever Payton's game plan is for today, the Broncos are in for a serious challenge. And not just from Mahomes.
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