Several empty drives proved deadly in Monday loss to Chiefs

1. Let’s start at the end … or near it The Broncos led 2320 with 6:27 remaining. First down: Right guard Connor McGovern loses his block against defensive tackle Xavier Williams (no gain for Phillip Lindsay). Second down: Case Keenum’s pass to Emmanuel Sanders in the right flat gains zero yards when cornerback Orlando Scandrick read the play perfectly, keeping one eye on his man (Demaryius Thomas) and one on Keenum. Third down: A coverage sack in 5.71 seconds. Fourth down: A poor 35yard Marquette King punt to the Chiefs’ 40.

2. The Broncos’ final drive. Safety Armani Watts blitzed unblocked on two plays, sacking Keenum and knocking him down. Keenum should have clocked the football after tight end Jeff Heuerman’s 36yard reception. Heuerman was whistled down at the 48second mark and the next play was snapped at 32 seconds. The one Keenum wanted back was his overthrow of an open Thomas at the Chiefs’ 5yard line. And, on the final play, replays showed Courtland Sutton would have had the first down before trying to pitch it back to Sanders. The issue was time — the clock would have probably run out.

3. The Broncos rushed at least five players on 12 of Patrick Mahomes’ 53 dropbacks (22.6 percent). The pass rush story for the Broncos was closetobutnotallthewayhome. They piled up 19 pressures on Mahomes, but only one sack (a coverage sack by linebacker Todd Davis). Quarterback hits: Von Miller 2, Bradley Chubb 2, Derek Wolfe 2 and one apiece for Davis and Zach Kerr. Quarterback pressures: Wolfe 3, Chubb 2 and one apiece for Miller, Will Parks, Shane Ray, Darian Stewart and Adam Gotsis.

4. The Chiefs rushed at least five players on 12 of Keenum’s 37 dropbacks (32.4 percent). Booked for allowing sacks were Lindsay, 2.46 seconds when linebacker Dee Ford bounced off the block attempt and Keenum couldn’t throw quickly to Sanders, who was covered; linebacker Justin Houston used a speed rush to get around left tackle Garett Bolles (2.40 seconds); a coverage sack in 5.71 seconds; and a split sack allowed by Heuerman and running back Devontae Booker (2.76 seconds), neither of whom accounted for a blitzing Watts.

5. A recap of Mahomes’ magic extending plays: Eight yards on thirdand4 (4.27 seconds), 20 yards on thirdand9 (4.88), 29 yards on thirdand11 (5.09), 5 yards on thirdand1 (3.69), a lefthanded 6yard pass on thirdand5 (3.90), 23 yards on secondand30 (5.07) and 35 yards on thirdand7 (3.89). “He gave us a problem, obviously, scrambling around and creating a new play, which is tough on (defensive backs),” coach Vance Joseph said.

6. Good teams finish drives. The Broncos didn’t check that box. First quarter: Reached the Chiefs 29, but Thomas dropped a quick pass, and Lindsay allowed a sack, creating a thirdand12 (field goal). Fourth quarter: The Broncos reach the Chiefs’ 34, but gain 6 yards on two rushes and Keenum throws it away on thirdand4 (field goal).

7. Perhaps knowing the state of his defense, Chiefs coach Andy Reid went for it on fourthand1 from his 34 on the opening drive. It was a welldesigned play. Kansas City had three players lined up to the left (a fullback, tight end and receiver). That forced a sixman box for the Broncos’ defense and Kareem Hunt gained 2 yards. Two plays later, Hunt caught a pass behind the line of scrimmage and gained 27 yards when Stewart and cornerback Adam Jones missed tackles. Stewart and cornerback Bradley Roby missed tackles later on Hunt’s 45yard run.

8. It was a wild night for cornerback Chris Harris. He drew three Chiefs pen alties — facemask on receiver Demarcus Robinson facemask, illegal hands to the face by right guard Laurent DuvernayTardif and pass interference by tight end Travis Kelce. In man coverage, we charted Mahomes as 2of3 for 19 yards (one pass breakup) against Harris. The pass breakup came while covering Kelce.