Horse Tracks: 3 Quick Facts: Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs

Still feeling the sting.

Sunday’s game feels like the best team on the field walked away with a loss. In what was one of the most competitive and compelling Chiefs rivalry games in recent memory, the Denver Broncos revealed a lot about just who they are over halfway though the season. Here’s what we know:

1. Bow nix is maturing before our very eyes. The Nix we saw on Sunday was not the timid, happy-footed rookie that showed up during the team’s last 2-game losing streak. Coach Sean Payton has added plays to Nix’s aresenal that push the ball downfield. Granted, there is still a great deal for him to learn, but you can’t deny that Nix’s game has a subtle sophistication that hasn’t been seen from a Broncos rookie, perhaps ever.
2. The Denver defense is nasty. Not since the days of the No Fly Zone has it been this fun to watch the defense beat, badger, and bludgeon opposing offenses. 4 different players rang up 4 sacks and had quelled the Patrick Mahomes threat, enabling Denver to be in a position to win the game with that ill-fated field goal attempt. Vance Joseph called one hell of a game against that most annoying and, according to their record, best team in football. Barf.
3. Broncos are turning a corner. Yes, Denver has lost its last two games, but there is a fire in the boiler the likes of which Broncos Country hasn’t seen since the Manning years. The offense and defense are showing growth in leaps and bounds while special teams, though frustrating on Sunday, is not the consistent pain-point it has been. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still tremendous opportunity for growth, but this is the first time in a very long time Broncos Country hasn’t identified a coach or coordinator to run out of Denver on a rail. No heads are being called for on this coaching staff and that’s a huge improvement over year’s past.

Sure, Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs stung. It’s never fun to lose that way. However, the bumbling band of doofuses that have frustrated Broncos Country over these past few years have been replaced by the foundations of what are going to be a competitive and relevant team for years to come. With a full bevy of draft picks and salary cap space unseen since before the Russell Wilson debacle, it looks like the Broncos are going to emerge from the darkness sooner, rather than later.

Headlines

Lutz's last-second field goal blocked, Broncos lose heartbreaker to Chiefs
A 29-yard-field goal attempt by Broncos kicker Will Lutz was blocked as time expired Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, and the Broncos lost a heartbreaker to the rival Chiefs, 16-14.

‘Games like this are supposed to hurt’: Broncos suffer ‘gut-wrenching’ loss in 16-14 decision vs. Chiefs
“Obviously, a tough loss,” Head Coach Sean Payton said. “I thought we played well on the road. … I felt like we outplayed them, but we didn’t finish....