Denver Broncos (10-7) – Kansas City Chiefs (15-2): 38-0
For its 1,000th regular season game Denver had a meeting with its past and its future. In a throwback uniform of the best taste, the Broncos absolutely had to win in order to validate their ticket to the playoffs. Faced with very weak Chiefs, Bo Nix and his team did more than do what was necessary, they completely unfolded. Denver gives itself the right to dream and will extend its season in Buffalo next week.
The Broncos don't shake, Bo Nix is perfect
From the outset and despite the pressure on their shoulders, the Denver Broncos let their horses go. From the first drive, Bo Nix (26/29, 321 yards, 4 touchdowns, 7 races, 47 yards) found Marvin Mims Jr. (5 receptions, 51 yards, 2 touchdowns) for an artistic touchdown allowing them to open the score. Rebelotte a few minutes later with Nix who found Courtland Sutton twice (5 receptions, 98 yards, 1 touchdown), first time for 47 yards, then a second time for a 10-yard touchdown. Continuing his recital, the rookie quarterback throws a third touchdown, this time to Devaughn Vele (4 receptions, 50 yards, 1 touchdown) to end the half (24-0) with an almost perfect record of 18/19, 215 yards and 3 touchdowns.
And the attack does not slow down in the second half since Nix once again finds Marvin Mims Jr. in the goal, before Audric Estime (11 races, 30 yards, 1 touchdown) scores his second touchdown in the NFL. Denver will finally have the luxury of releasing its quarterback after the latter became the rookie having thrown the second most touchdowns in the NFL (29). He fails just 2 lengths behind another former Oregon Ducks quarterback, Justin Herbert (31 touchdowns in 2020).
On the other side of the field, the defense found its edge and completely mastered its subject with only 94 yards conceded and 5 sacks made. Nik Bonitto took the opportunity to improve his stats with 2 new sacks, bringing his total to 13.5 for the season, while the squad led by Patrick Surtain II left only crumbs for opposing receivers (71 yards on the match). The two players thus fully justify their recent selection to the Pro Bowl.
Kansas City already had its head elsewhere
But if Denver played so well, the task was largely made easier by the weakness of the opponent. With all their best players resting (including Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie) the Chiefs only came to show their presence. And the least we can say is that the substitutes did not score any points today. Veteran Carson Wentz seemed a long way from his great years in Philadelphia (10/17, 98 yards). The other Carson, Steele, was not able to make his way into the trenches (8 races, 23 yards). Only Nick Remigio (2 receptions, 48 yards) quickly shone with a one-handed reception. A very small consolation.
It's a safe bet that a few candles will be burning in Missouri in the coming weeks. Injuries to the starters seem forbidden given what these replacements have to offer…
