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Published on 09/28/2008 at Sun Sep 28 15:00.
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Arrowhead Prevails – Chiefs 33, Broncos 19

Posted Sun Sep 28th by

Larry Johnson and Marlon McCree
AP Photo

Any given Sunday.

It’s been 29 years since the Denver Broncos (3-1) won back-to-back games in Arrowhead Stadium, and that streak will continue. The Kansas City Chiefs (1-3) took it to the Broncos all game long, handing Denver their first loss of the season with a 33-19 victory in Arrowhead Stadium.

It was the first victory for the Chiefs since October 21, 2007, ending a franchise record 12-game losing streak.

The Chiefs had scored 32 points so far this year heading into the game. The Broncos gave them 33. Meanwhile, the Broncos offense put up embarrassing numbers. Their 19 points is a season-low by far. At halftime in the first three games, the Broncos had 17, 31, and 24 points. At half time. It took them four quarters and four Matt Prater field goals to reach 19 by game’s end.

Eddie Royal Fumble (AP Photo)
AP Photo

The offense struggled all game long. Turnovers led to a 6-0 Kansas City lead in the first quarter. Jay Cutler threw two interceptions; Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal both lost fumbles in the first half; the offense was forced to attempt five field goals instead of converting third downs in enemy territory.

The defense had its moments, but at the end of the day Larry Johnson still had 198 rushing yards and two touchdowns. That’s not getting the job done no matter how you slice it.

Did the Broncos overlook the Chiefs? Had they heard everything everyone was saying and didn’t put in the effort required to win? It sure looked that way. Denver is by far the better football team, but the Chiefs showed that heart, effort, and focus are just as important as talent when it comes to winning. Hopefully this loss can build character for the Broncos as they face three tough opponents before the bye.

  • Boisebroncoguy

    Man, that was just embarrassing. I hope our defense can figure something out. A bit of a pass rush, but not much. Plenty of receivers running free so DAMON HUARD!!

  • Boisebroncoguy

    (CONTINUED)………..of all people could kill us. We still can’t stop the run. As far as the offense goes, I just wonder if teams are starting to figure out how to defend Cutler better. I think he is focusing on Marshall to much. Other guys were open on those picks. Of course the fumbles weren’t his fault. Hard to believe we could look so bad. Hopefully, the Raiders will continue to help us out.

  • Sean

    Yeah i hear you on that. It still makes me sick to root for the raiders lol but if they can just beat the chargers it will be ok with our devision.

  • Greg

    I agree. What an embarrassment this defense is. How many bad performances is it going to take before someone in the locker room or front office decides to do something about it? I’m sure they’ll release someone and then sign someone else that’s just as bad to fill the spot. Dre Bly is bad, Jack Williams is bad, Karl Paymah is bad, the pass rush is really bad. The offense can’t put up 40 every week, and sometimes they are going to have to rely on the defense to make a couple stops. It hasn’t happened once this year and it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen any time soon. What a joke.

  • OC Bronco

    Any long time fan knows that this was vintage Broncos. Beat some tough teams and lose to the worst. But like I said the other day Damon Huard is not bad and they are a much better team with him at the helm. Still, there is no excuse for our horrendous Defense.
    Back down to earth and hopefully we start making some changes.

  • Rome

    Cutler has been focusing on Bmarsh too much sience week 2, 2007…

    Today’s D looked the same as last year. I hope we see the same high caliber Broncos from last week agaist the Bucks, more then needed.

    Look at these Raiders smack the stupid Chargers around… lol

  • Boisebroncoguy

    I agree it was vintage Broncos, I just wish I knew why. Nonetheless, we do have some issues that I hope get fixed.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Joe

    Our offense sucked. Cutler, Marshall, Royal, ALL sucked. If I had to give the game ball out to someone, it would have to be a race for it between Pittman and Prater. Our defense is the worst I have ever seen in the entire NFL. They suck. Period. Hopefully they will grow a pair soon and be able to stop something. LARRY JOHNSON ran all over this defense. He’s a fu***** has been. And guess what? Denver made him look like an allstar again. Wow.

  • Riverscanbl&wme

    The team did not show up for this game.

    Offense: Cutler, please look like you’re interested in the game. Instead of game planning with Bates and looking disinterested on the sideline become a leader and rally the team. The line protected well but needs a nastier streak on run blocking. The scheme this game was too cutesy and Jay was not taking what the defense gave him.

    Defense: The line is terrible but we all knew that. The coaching was just as bad. Put Champ on Bowe and make Huard actually throw to someone else. Of course Gonzalez came on late but the point is that Slowik did nothing to stop this predictable offense. Three man rushes again and we can’t get there with eight; way to go Bob. The Bailey brothers and McCree were the only people who showed up today.

    Special Teams: Again, when we needed a stop the most they allow a lane big enough for a truck to drive thru. Prater kicked well but what happened to those touchbacks we saw against Oakland.

    All and all this was one of the hardest games I’ve watched being a Broncos fan. When need to come to play agains Tampa and get this season back on track.

    Prayers go out to Clifford and his family. These type of injuries are starting to happen more frequently and it just makes you think about how football is just a game and your health is way more important in the grand scheme of things.

  • jchase8410

    I made a comment about the defensive coordinator after last weeks win against a banged up Saints team. I just can’t understand why we wouldn’t stick their best reciever with our best defensive back. This retarded zone scheme has no chance of working. Rush 3 guys, and I can pick apart a zone, how much easier is it for an NFL caliber qb? No more “we faced two of the top 5 offenses” excuse. The Denver defense made one of the worst offenses in the league look stellar, which is completely unacceptable. Come up with a defensive game plan yo neutralize the opposing teams weapons, or find someone who will. Stop trading for shitty players that couldn’t make the cut on sub-par teams. Right now, I’m just disgusted at the defensive play…not to mention the only throw to Marshall no matter how covered he is attitude that Cutler showed today…disgusted

  • Roy

    Did anyone else see that Kiffen opted to kick a 76 yard feild goal? 7-6. Yards. No matter how crappy we played today, that has to make you smile.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Yeah I saw that. Ended the first half. Just wacky. NBD.

  • http://www.search-this.com mark

    “The Broncos didn’t put in the effort required to win?”

    I disagree with this — 4 turn overs kills you, effort or not. That said, the defense stinks. There simply is not enough talent on the defensive side of the football.

    The defense flys around the field, but without thinking first. If you do that you just get out of position quickly. Not good boys. Play smarter, not harder…

    One question – why doesn’t Champ line up against Dwayne Bowe or whomever the other teams number one is each week, regardless of which side they lineup on? How come Champ sticks to the left side no matter what?

  • flbronc

    our defense is not good. if we keep playing like this, we will be the worst in the league against the pass and the run. it is not a good sign that the only team we have kept under thirty points is the raiders…

    all those draft picks we have stockpiled better go to the defense.

  • Roy

    Its not that we don’t have talent on the defense. we do. i don’t think that they are being used right, or gelling. we need to look at what has worked for us in the past and move in that direction.

  • http://www.search-this.com mark

    “…we need to look at what has worked for us in the past and move in that direction.”

    What worked for us in the past? You mean – Alfred Williams, Keith Burns, Keith Traylor, Neil Smith, John Mobley and Steve Atwater?

  • Roy

    I am talking about schemes, not personnel. Anything has to be better than what we are putting on the field right now.

  • jchase8410

    When an offense as bad as the cheifs can do whatever they want, whenever they want, you know there is a problem. A agree with Roy, this is not a personnel problem. It is a defensive coordinator/scheme problem. The broncos have talent on defense, but play away from their strengths. We have two of the best cover corners, and hard hitting, run support safeties, and dropping back into a zone every play. We have the fastest linebackers around, but don’t send any of them on blitzes. At least take a gamble on third down and get burned. I’ll take that over giving them first down after first down by playing it safe ALL the time.

  • Person

    Now, I’m not sending this team down the river, they can still make it to the playoffs but they are not yet a championship team. They need to start think about what is wrong this year and fix it throughout the season and continue through the offseason. So what that said…

    James Laurinaitis in the first. If Torain can’t pull it out a RB in the 2nd or 3rd because we need the running game for the passing game. We also need to look at taller CBs in the draft. Also, Shanny needs to be looking out for a DE in free agency.

  • T-Money

    Wow, chill out you guys… It’s one freaking game. There is still 3/4 of a season to play. This was a bitter loss and it sucks that it came against KC…but remember that we have to play them again IN DENVER. It’s got redemption written all over it. To be honest I think (stay with me on this one) that the loss came at a good time. It gets the taste of winning out of your mouth and shows your team that looseing sucks.

    If you play like crap and win, you don’t learn a lesson.
    If you play like crap and lose, you strive to become better and bring 110% the next time you play.

    I would rather loose a game, and become a GREAT football team, rather than win and be a GOOD football team.

    What would make you want to play harder:
    1. “we didn’t play well as a defense but we still won the game”
    or
    2.”We didn’t play well at all and we lost the game because of it”

  • 96isgone

    one quarter of the way throught he season, it’s about time to give the broncos their 1/4 report card:
    Pass Offense: A-….cutler’s been great, royal in the running for rookie of the year, marshall hasn’t missed a beat, TE one of the strong positions on the team, OL has for the most part given Cutler great time to pass. Rbs out of the backfield catching the ball well…
    running offense: D+… not focussed on it, no real go-to back (Torrain back may help), OL can’t move the DTs
    Pass defense C-: no real rush from the DL (4 DL sacks in four games), OLBs covering backs well, champ still the best, dry bly getting thrown at constantly, still trying to figure out the safety and nickle situation, no pass rush from 2nd yr DLs, constantly huge holes in the zone…
    Rush defense D: Chiefs exposed the DL, Robertson’s knee is again an issue, DTs cannot push the inside three OL back… giving up 5yds/att…
    Special Teams D ….punting a bit above average in net yds, kickoff defense has been terrible (next to last in league), kickoff return not much better: 22.1 yds per rtn, 31 longest, no real threat…punt returns eddie has been good and is a threat to break one

    Overall B….this is a team that is one blown ref call and one play away from being 1-3, and very lucky to be 3-1: facing the horrific raiders, the chargers without a full strength LT, and lost to a Chiefs team that should have been a victory. Upcoming games only get tougher: Tampa, Jacksonville, New england. These next three should determine who the broncos are, and what the playoff making chances are….