Dee Ford bullied the Broncos out of the playoff chase

[Chromatic]

The Chiefs pass rusher didn’t get any sacks in a Week 16 win over the Broncos, but he was a critical difference maker. That earned him Stephen White’s Hoss of the Week award.

by Stephen White Dec 27, 2016, 1:20pm EST

In my estimation, there wasn't a lot of difference between the top defensive front performers this past weekend, so I decided to go just go with my gut for Hoss this time around. There were several teams playing for their playoff lives and the guy I ultimately chose showed up big time in one of those games to help make sure his team made it to the postseason.

The Denver/Kansas City game was effectively a loser-leave-town match. The stat sheet may not have shown it, but Chiefs outside linebacker Dee Ford's performance was a big part of why the Broncos won't get a chance to defend their Super Bowl crown this season.

It’s funny because just last week I brought up how well Ford had played the first half of this season filling in for an injured Justin Houston and how he had fallen off a tad bit since Houston's return. With Houston out again on Sunday, Ford again found his inner Beast Mode and went to town on the Broncos. He didn't record a sack during the game and he technically only had two tackles, but Ford's impact on the outcome was much greater than that when you watch the film.

Side note: After yet another edge rusher earned Hoss of the Week after having matched up primarily with the Broncos' right tackle this season, I'm going to suggest that Denver go ahead and invest in an upgrade at that position this offseason. Nothing personal, Donald Stephenson, but I'm just sayin’.

Ford gave Stephenson the blues around the corner repeatedly on Sunday, and seemingly every time Trevor Siemian had to hold the ball at all, Ford ended the play breathing down his neck.

Ford got started early on beating Stephenson with a simple dip-and-rip move on third-and-10 on the Broncos' first drive of the game. Ford's teammate Chris Jones also got a good rush on the play, beating Broncos right guard Michael Schofield back into Siemian's lap and forcing him into a bad throw that fell incomplete. Jones pushed Siemian as he delivered the ball downfield and knocked him into Ford who blasted him good. That play doesn't show up on a stat sheet, but you can best believe that both Stephenson and Siemian remembered it the rest of the game.

Just because he remembered it didn't mean that Stephenson would fare any better trying to block Ford the rest of the game, however.

Ford would beat Stephenson again with another dip-and-rip move with a little less than seven minutes left in the second quarter to get another pressure on Siemian on third-and-10. Siemian felt him coming and tried to drift away from him, but Ford was too fast and Siemian ended up just having to throw it in the direction of tight end Jeff Heuerman who was covered like a blanket.

Just before halftime, Ford was at it again. This time he hit Stephenson with a quick long arm and then swatted Stephenson's outside hand off before he ripped off the block outside. Once again Siemian had to throw the ball in Heuerman's direction to avoid the sack. This time, however, the pressure came on first-and-15, so in theory, the Broncos could have still overcome it and scored, seeing as how they were already at the Kansas City 40-yard line.

In reality, Denver ended up trying a fake field goal that did not go well.

Ford ended up beating Stephenson for one more pressure late in the third quarter and he used the same long arm to a swat move again. I guess he figured if it ain't broke don't fix it, and I'm not mad at him. That time Siemian had to throw the ball away in Cody Latimer's direction to avoid the sack on third-and-4, which forced Denver to punt on fourth down on the next play.

I personally felt kinda bad for Stephenson seeing as how it didn't seem like the Broncos' coaching staff gave him much help with Ford. Then again, they didn't seem to account for Ford in the game plan much at all.

For instance, Ford ended up getting three more pressures on two naked bootlegs and one run/pass option where he wasn't even blocked. Oh, and he also took down Denver running back Devontae Booker for a loss of 3 yards on a third-and-1 in the second quarter when he was unblocked as well.

I don't know if the Broncos just didn't respect Ford's abilities or what, but it was hard enough to keep the guy from making plays on Saturday even when they had a blocker on him. I can't understand how they thought not laying a finger on him would turn out any better.

Before I forget, Ford had another pressure rushing from the right in the third quarter. He came off a little slow for once, kind of like he was spying Siemian. With his teammate Tamba Hali rushing as three technique inside of him getting pressure and forcing Siemian out of the pocket, Ford turned on the jets to make Siemian throw the ball away once more.

Add all of those together and you come up with seven pressures, a tackle for loss, an assisted tackle, and oh by the way, Stephenson was flagged for jumping early twice when lined up across from Ford as well.

Screw your stat sheet, that's one hell of a game in my book!

Dee Ford had another opportunity on Sunday to show what he could do with Houston out of the lineup. The Chiefs needed the Ford of the first 10 weeks of the season to make an appearance if they had any hope of winning a game with their playoff standing on the line.

With all that was at stake, Ford stood up and played his ass off. Now, with the unfortunate injury to Derek Carr, the Chiefs have a great chance to win the division next week. If he can continue to play well even after Houston makes it back on the field, Kansas City is going to be one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs this year.

For now Ford's performance this week was just enough to earn him the first Hoss of the Week award of his career.

Good article.

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/12/27/1...937.1478096526