Broncos defense laments late lapses
ago, only to be bailed out by a blocked extra point attempt.
Sunday, the defense largely shut down the Chiefs offense for 31⁄ quarters before allowing a game-tying touchdown drive at the end of regulation and two field goals, including the 34-yard game-winner, in overtime.
It’s unfamiliar territory for a defense so accustomed to closing games strong with a big stand or a forced turnover. That’s the formula the Broncos used to win the Super Bowl last season, and suddenly it doesn’t appear to be working.
“That’s a concern, because I feel like we’re playing the same coverages, we’re making the same calls, but maybe we’re not doing it as aggressive as we do at other times,” coach Gary Kubiak said.
Kubiak said the Broncos did not change their defensive game plan in the final minutes after taking a 24-16 lead. But the Chiefs managed to convert two third downs, including a 10-yard completion to tight end Travis Kelce when the Broncos called a full blitz, as well as a fourth down to set up the tying touchdown.
The defense committed three penalties on the drive — defensive holding on cornerback Kayvon Webster, offside on outside linebacker Von Miller and illegal contact on T.J. Ward.
“We beat ourselves,” defensive end Derek Wolfe said. “It’s attention to detail. It starts in practice, we’ve got to pay attention to what the hell is going on, what we need to be doing, what play is called. It’s everything. ... People need to stop being sensitive, be able to take criticism. I’m not saying anyone is not, but as a whole, myself included, we all need to look in the mirror and do better.”
The Broncos, at 7-4, are two games behind the AFC Westleading Raiders.
They now embark on a twogame road trip against AFC South teams — the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans — needing to get their defense back on track. Denver still has the NFL’s top-rated pass defense and a league-high 35 sacks, but recent results matter more than the statistics.
“The message is really that we could have made a play to close out a football game ... but we didn’t. We didn’t make a play. We had chances in all three phases to close the game and we didn’t,” Kubiak said. “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have to move on and focus on Jacksonville.”
“We had chances in all three phases to close the game and we didn’t. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves.” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, after the team’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Chiefs