That was a tough one to swallow.
Joe Flacco and the Broncos were destroyed at home by the mostly Patrick Mahomes-less Kansas City Chiefs, 30-6, on Thursday Night Football. Here’s what you may have missed:
- The momentum the Broncos believed they generated by beating the Chargers and Titans the previous two weeks? Gone, Ryan O’Halloran writes in his analysis of the Chiefs-Broncos game.
- Columnist Mark Kiszla on why Peyton Manning should be the new director of football operations: (John) “Elway is the greatest player in Broncos history. But it’s time to send Elway to the showers and put Manning back in the game.”
- The Broncos’ offensive line struggled mightily as the Chiefs racked up nine sacks on the day, Kyle Newman reports.
- Ja’Wuan James, the right tackle Denver paid a pretty penny for in the offseason, missed his sixth consecutive game.
- Bad news for the Chiefs. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a knee injury and was knocked out of the game.
- A positive from the loss? It’s the second time in three games in which Denver has scored a touchdown on its opening drive. Matt Schubert has the good and the bad from the game in his up-down drill.
- There were a couple of highlights for the Broncos, including Royce Freeman’s opening drive touchdown, his first TD of the season, and Joe Flacco’s 41-yard pass to Courtland Sutton.
- And one horrible lowlight: That failed fake punt. After it happened, fans and commentators did not take kindly to it on Twitter.
- Check out the pictures of our game from our stellar photo staff.
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— Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post
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What’s on Tap?
- Avalanche: At Florida Panthers, 5 p.m. Friday, ALT | Buy tickets
- Northern Colorado football: Portland State, 1 p.m. Saturday | Buy tickets
- Avalanche: At Tampa Bay Lightning, 5 p.m. Saturday, ALT | Buy tickets
- CU Buffs football: At Washington State, 5 p.m. Saturday, ESPNU | Buy tickets
- Air Force football: At Hawaii, 9 p.m. Saturday, CBSSN | Buy tickets
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
Scoreboard
NFL: Chiefs 30, Broncos 6
Full story | Box score
MLB: Astros 8, Yankees 3
Full story | Box score
NBA preseason: Nuggets 110, Trail Blazers 104
Full story | Box score
Check out our new and improved stats page.
Must-Read
Kiszla: Broncos need to send John Elway to showers and hire Peyton Manning as director of football operations
The obvious answer to what ails the lost-and-inept Broncos could be found, front and center on the Denver sideline, a little more than 30 minutes before a deflating and humiliating 30-6 loss to Kansas City. Desplendent in orange as he stood near the 50-yard line at 5:47 p.m. Thursday, there was Peyton Manning, owner of the most brilliant football mind in town, Mark Kiszla writes. Read more…
Avalanche (5-0-1) moves into south Florida for games against the Panthers, Lightning
Riding a six-game points streak to begin the season, the Avalanche hopes to bounce back from a 3-2 overtime loss Wednesday at Pittsburgh. Read more…
Nuggets handle Blazers, finish preseason with perfect 4-0 record
The regular season is coming, whether the Denver Nuggets are adequately prepared or not. Read more…
Quick Hits
+ The Rockies have made some significant changes in their minor-league staffs
+ Tony Wolters provides solid defense, but Rockies need a back-up catcher
+ Former Broncos, CU Buffs lineman Justin Bannan arrested in connection with Boulder shooting.
+ A-Basin to offer “happy hour” skiing on Fridays through late November.
+ Storms headed toward Colorado ski areas, helping Loveland open next week.
+ Bill Belichick responds to former Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas saying trade to Jets “disrespectful”
+ Boxer Patrick Day, 27, dies days after suffering traumatic brain injury in fight
+ Baker Mayfield has gone from No. 1 pick to No. 1 in picks
Ask The Experts
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Ryan O’Halloran here.
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Mike Singer here.
+ Avs Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Mike Chambers here.
+ Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Patrick Saunders here.
By The Numbers
9
Broncos’ offensive line manhandled by Kansas City as Chiefs rack up nine sacks, hold Denver to 71 yards rushing
It was an alarmingly bad performance from a unit that had been showing marked improvement as of late. Read more…
Parting Shot
NBA GMs tab Nuggets as most “fun” team to watch
Less than a week from the start of the 2019-’20 NBA season, general managers across the league are high on the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets were heavily featured In NBA.com’s annual survey of the league’s 30 GMs, even if they didn’t pick them to win a title this season (They did predict, however, that they’d finish with the second-best record in the Western Conference), Mike Singer reports. Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something that’s cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me @danielboniface.
