Broncos Grades
OFFENSE B-
Yes, it was against mostly second-string players. And, yes, he made a handful of perplexing mistakes. But secondyear quarterback Paxton Lynch showed grit while leading the Broncos back from a 14-point deficit in the second half. It was an element not readily present in his previous three starts over the past two seasons.
DEFENSE C
A rookie quarterback for the Chiefs faced, for much of the game, a Denver secondary full of rookies. Linebacker Zaire Anderson’s fumble recovery and touchdown got Denver back in the game in the fourth quarter, but the Broncos couldn’t stop Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes from engineering the winning drive with less than three minutes to play.
SPECIAL TEAMS B
Brandon McManus converted all of his kicks — a field goal and three extra-point attempts — on an ice-cold afternoon, and Denver produced solid field position in the return game. In a season full of mistakes on special teams, Denver avoided any major ones in its finale.
COACHING C
Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave set up Lynch with a game plan of quick timing passes and screen plays — one that went for a 29-yard touchdown — that a quarterback who has rarely played or practiced this season because of various injuries could easily digest. But the result was another loss that ended a miserable season at 5-11.
GAME BALLS
Demaryius Thomas, Broncos WR. Fell short of the 108 yards he needed to reach 1,000 for the sixth year in a row, but he caught the game-tying touchdown pass on an impressive route late in the fourth quarter and finished with six catches for 57 yards. C.J. Anderson, Broncos RB. The fifth-year pro had to grind for every inch of the 61 yards he gained on 18 carries. That output put him over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs QB. The first-round draft pick from Texas Tech, making his first NFL start, led the Chiefs on their winning drive after Thomas’ touchdown catch tied the game. Mahomes used his big right arm and his legs to set up the winning field goal, which came on the last play.