Denver’s difficult defense

Defensive highlights in the Broncos’ 29-16 victory at Kansas City: • Held Chiefs to 151 yards total offense on 44 plays, including limiting running back Jamaal Charles to 35 yards and the team to 44 yards rushing. • Held the Chiefs to 1-of-9 in third-down efficiency. • Sacked Alex Smith six times. • Chiefs went three-and-out five times, including on their first three possessions. was sacked for losses of 43 yards. The average-per-pass attempt was, ugh, 3.8 yards.

They didn’t make a first down until past the middle of the second quarter. They had negative offensive yardage a long time into the game and not long before the Broncos had finished scoring on their first four offensive possessions.

At halftime, the Chiefs had four first downs, 59 net yards and seven points.

Ware looked like he was everywhere _ finishing with a sack (he could have been credited with half-sacks twice more) and, get this, the third interception of his notable career. For the second time in Kansas City games this year, Terrance “Pot Roast’’ Knighton batted a pass with his ham-hock hand, and this one deflected to Ware.

Playing without cornerbacks Aqib Talib and KayvonWebster, plus linebackers Danny Trevathan and Nate Irving, the Broncos never let up.

This is a defense team Clarence Darrow and Randy Gradishar would be proud of.