Chiefs 2021 Opponent Overview: Denver Broncos

For the first time this season, the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the division rival Denver Broncos. The two squads are separated by one game in the AFC West. Kansas City sits at 7-4 and Denver enters Sunday night at 6-5.

Meanwhile, both teams are looking to move up higher in the AFC playoff picture. Kansas City currently holds the fourth seed. Yet, they are just one game back of the Baltimore Ravens for the number one seed. The Broncos are currently the first team on the outside looking in. Denver is currently tied record-wise with the final wild card team (Los Angeles Chargers), while also being just one game back of the other two teams that are currently in wild card spots (Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills).

Today, we will be giving our own view of the Denver Broncos entering their matchup with the Chiefs. What can Kansas City expect from their offense and defense? Let’s kick it off by focusing on Denver’s star-studded offense.

Built To Win

Deep Receiving Corps

As many people have stated over the last couple of years, the Broncos present a tremendous supporting cast on offense. It starts with the pass catchers. Denver spent first round picks in both 2019 and 2020 on tight end Noah Fant and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. In a way, both of those picks were solid jobs of letting the board fall to them. Each player was highly touted in their respective draft class. Yet, neither was the first player off the board at their position.

Meanwhile, Denver also spent a top 40 overall pick on wide receiver Courtland Sutton in 2018. Sutton was recently rewarded with a four year extension worth a total of $60.8 million. He produced over 1,100 receiving yards and had six receiving touchdowns in his last fully healthy season of 2019. A strong finish could result in very similar numbers for 2021. A torn ACL in 2020 is the only blip that hurt his progress.

Another extension recently handed out went to wide receiver Tim Patrick (three years/$34.5 million). This obviously gave Patrick a handsome payday. Over the last two years now, he has become a go to guy on crucial downs and in the intermediate to deep passing game. His size, ball skills and spatial awareness result in explosive gains, despite his low amount of catches on average. This was also quite the win for Denver to hand out an extension to a player who went undrafted out of Utah and has improved year after year in their program.

Power Run Dynamic

Veteran running back Melvin Gordon has had a fine season, after dealing with injuries last year with the Broncos. He may not have the top end speed that he had during the peak of his Chargers tenure. Though, the Wisconsin product still makes defenders miss and can bring a physical nature against contact as well.

Opponents do not just have to worry about Gordon, however. Rookie second round pick Javonte Williams is already turning heads. He appears to be one of the more pro ready running backs that have been drafted over the last couple of years. Williams is larger than some may expect, combining that stout frame with a tough, bruising rushing style. He is well advanced with his understanding of angles and when to hit his acceleration, given his youth. Williams is already producing at a high level. Moreover, Gordon is in the final year of his contract, giving the Broncos a head start on getting Williams acclimated to something similar to a starting role.

Denver has used each of these running backs at roughly the exact same usage. It has led to near identical results. Their numbers are as follows for various categories:

Carries: 135 for Gordon, 117 for Williams

Rushing yards: 605 for Gordon, 568 for Williams

Yards per carry: 4.9 yards for Williams, 4.5 yards for Gordon

Targets: 33 for Williams, 30 for Gordon

Receptions: 27 for Williams, 22 for Gordon

Receiving yards: 193 for Williams, 166 for Gordon

The Missing Link

While it is true that the Broncos’ supporting cast exudes some of the biggest potential among younger offenses in the NFL, the team can only go so far until the quarterback position is fixed. It has been a seemingly lengthy, never-ending carousel at the quarterback position for Denver. Since Peyton Manning won Super Bowl 50 and retired, the Broncos have had 11 different quarterbacks start at least one game.

This includes a list of passers past their prime (i.e. Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Teddy Bridgewater), passers that did not/have not panned out as top 100 draft picks (i.e. Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler, Drew Lock), or others that were clear stopgaps/last ditch options (i.e. Trevor Siemian, Brandon Allen, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rypien, Kendall Hinton).

Similar to that list, the Broncos quarterbacks have produced plenty of high variance this year. Bridgewater has led the team to some impressive victories. Dominating Dallas in their building and finishing through ailments to get a critical division home win over the Chargers for example, have helped to keep Denver in the playoff race. However, turnovers, little consistency of stringing drives together, failure to convert on third down and a lack of hitting on enough explosive plays have held the Broncos back. Just like other recent passers, Bridgewater displays nothing more than a bridge option.

The team had a chance to select either Justin Fields or Mac Jones in the first round this past spring and chose not to. That decision could be extremely costly, given the age and trends of Denver’s defense and better players. The Broncos could have possibly been gun-shy after failing to succeed on a recent high draft pick at QB (Lock). Nonetheless, there is not a lot of confidence in the upcoming quarterback class for the 2022 NFL Draft. Will this team look to bring in someone like an Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson like they did with Manning? Either way, the Broncos must find their franchise savior soon.

New Dogs, Old Tricks

The Denver defense has been a menace for opposing offenses. Once again, this group is suffocating with their coverage in the secondary. The Broncos are also seeing some new pass rushers emerge. Whether it has been due to injuries, or departing moves for defensive legends like Von Miller, the Broncos have quickly had to throw younger players into the fire. And for the most part, this group is passing the test.

Rookie first round pick Patrick Surtain II is just as dangerous as his father was during his NFL tenure. Surtain II provides sticky coverage, length and a stellar nose for the football. He has only allowed a completion percentage of 47.1 percent on passes thrown against him. Just last week he registered two interceptions, one that went for a pick six. Surtain II has also been very successful as a tackler in run support. His four missed tackles are fairly impressive. Most rookie cornerbacks are not as willing or productive as a tackler early on.

On the other hand, other youngsters like Dre’Mont Jones, Baron Browning and Caden Sterns are steadily improving with increased playing time. Denver is using this trio in a variety of roles. Whether it be in the pass rush, in pass coverage or in run defense, the Broncos are receiving impact stops from these guys at much needed times.

Finally, the veterans on this defense are still no pushovers. Justin Simmons is a true ballhawk at the safety position who can keep offenses sealed from hitting on explosive plays. In addition, players like Shelby Harris, Ronald Darby, Kareem Jackson and Kenny Young have become trustworthy pieces in keeping the Broncos season alive.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles throughout this week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.