Chiefs vs. Broncos: Full Report Card Grades for Kansas City
Prior to Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, I had a mental preview of what these grades would look like for the Kansas City Chiefs. Like everyone else, I expected a blowout and perhaps the game being decided at halftime because of the amount of injuries (prior to the ones that occurred in the game) the team is dealing with.
But this is why you play the game.
The Chiefs showed up and gave the Broncos a run for their money. With the loss of Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry, the Chiefs gave Denver a scare as they had an opportunity to tie (or win by going for two points if they scored a touchdown) at the end of the game.
A loss is a loss, but this loss does not compare to last week's. There is a lot to feel good about in the team's future, even with the injuries.
Quarterback
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With Jamaal Charles injured and the offensive line continuing to take blows, Alex Smith did more than what was expected of him. Although he did not pick up the win, he had 26 completions for 255 yards, more than Peyton Manning in both categories.
Smith was sacked twice but evaded several Denver defenders throughout the game and even got some help to keep DeMarcus Ware quiet.
The only thing missing was a game-tying/winning touchdown in the end. Despite the injuries, you have to feel good about Alex Smith with the performance he had against a stout Broncos defense.
Grade: A
Running Back
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Running back Knile Davis was forced to fill in for Jamaal Charles, who left the game early due to an ankle injury. Davis came in and immediately helped the offense.
Davis finished with 22 carries for 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also led the team with six receptions, earning 26 yards through the air.
If Charles is unable to return, the loss will hurt. At the same time, the Chiefs have a player in Davis who could be a rising star. He has shown potential with some flashes on Sunday and during his rookie season, he but needs to show it on a consistent basis.
Grade: A-
Wide Receiver
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Alex Smith had a better game with his pass-catchers against a strong secondary and good pass rush.
Starting with the wide receivers, Smith connected with Dwayne Bowe, A.J. Jenkins and Donnie Avery three times each. In Bowe’s return, Smith targeted him six times as Bowe gained 40 yards. Junior Hemingway was also heavily involved with a couple of catches in the game.
Although the receives did not shine, Smith made some progress with his receivers as they looked like they were in uniform compared to last week.
In the end, Smith and the receivers took care of the ball. Moving forward, they need to be better in the passing game and attack the end zone on some long passes.
Grade: C+
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Tight End
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Travis Kelce was used more as Anthony Fasano was more involved with the offense.
Kelce caught four catches for 81 yards, including a 20-yard catch-and-run on the final drive to help give the Chiefs a shot to win.
Fasano had three catches for 39 yards as he contributed in helping the team move the chains.
The offense is designed for Smith to be active with the tight ends. Third tight end Demetrius Harris even saw a little bit of action in this game.
Along with the receivers, Smith showed there is potential to have a good passing game with his tight ends.
Grade: B+
Offensive Line
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The offensive line has taken a lot of heat from the fans and media in Kansas City. On Sunday, the line showed it had room to grow but played far better than last week. Allowing only two sacks as a unit, Eric Fisher had a hand in keeping DeMarcus Ware quiet, who was mostly noticed for his penalties.
The offensive line must prove it can repeat this kind of performance next week. For now, the line showed some progress, which is all fans can ask for.
Grade: B
Defensive Line
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With the injury bug running around, the Chiefs’ starting defensive line consisted of nose tackle Dontari Poe and defensive ends Jaye Howard and newly acquired Kevin Vickerson.
The defensive front seven did not get much pressure on Peyton Manning, but it played well against the run.
The defensive line deserves a lot of credit for limiting Denver to only three points in the second half.
Not many defenses have the performance that Kansas City’s line had against the Broncos. Like the offensive line, the line on the other side has some things to feel good about.
Grade: B-
Linebacker
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While Knile Davis filled in well as a backup, the Chiefs had a pair of backups who were impressive against the run. Josh Mauga and James Michael-Johnson, substitutes for Derrick Johnson and Joe Mays, quickly closed in on running backs. For the most part, they did not allow big runs, as the longest run allowed was for 23 yards.
In addition, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston got a little bit more pressure on Peyton Manning in the second half. Hali recorded a sack against Manning, something the Chiefs could not get against him in either meeting last year.
Grade: A-
Secondary
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The defensive backs were the weakest link on defense. The unit allowed some big plays early in the game and struggled to force incompletions or turnovers.
With the absence of Eric Berry, who suffered an ankle injury, the defensive unit might be thinner moving forward. Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton has to work around it and have the secondary ready for the Miami Dolphins next week, with or without Berry.
Grade: C-
Special Teams
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The bottom line with kickers is simple: If a rookie kicker misses two of four field goals and misses from 37 yards away, the team must seek a new kicker as soon as possible before it gets to the point where it costs a team a game.
That is exactly what the Chiefs face with Cairo Santos, who has been disappointing since his NFL debut.
Along with Frankie Hammond handling return duties for the injured De’Anthony Thomas, the Chiefs aren’t getting much production in the return game.
Grade: F
Coaching
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Last week, Andy Reid did not have the Chiefs ready and only gave his best player the ball 11 times. On Sunday, Reid’s best offensive player was Knile Davis, who got the ball 28 times. Despite the loss, Reid had his team far more prepared, and the offense was far more in sync as opposed to Week 1.
A loss is a loss. At the same time, Chiefs fans feel better this week than they did last week because Reid had his players ready for a team projected to win the Super Bowl.
Was this a one-game flash where the Chiefs got lucky, or does Reid have the team moving in the right direction to get the first win soon?
We will find out in the next three games when the Chiefs face some serious competition in Miami, New England and San Francisco.
Grade: B+
Overall
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QB: A
RB: A-
WR: C+
TE: B+
OL: B
DL: B-
LB: A-
DB: C-
ST: F
Coaching: B+
Cumulative: B-
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